Any recommendations for caterers and entertainment (other than magicians or clowns)? I'm thinking of hosting a party for about 20-30 people in the afternoon. Budget is ideally RMB50 per person for food.

Hey everyone! I’m looking for things to do in Beijing around Halloween (Oct 31) and wanted to see if anyone knows of any events going on this year.

I’m open to pretty much anything: costume parties, bar or club nights, haunted houses, themed events at malls or expat spots, or even something low-key like a Halloween meetup. Bonus points if it’s beginner-friendly for someone who doesn’t know a ton of people here yet.

If you’ve been to something good in past years, I’d love to hear about that too. Also, any tips on where to find costumes or decorations last-minute would be super appreciated!

Thanks in advance 🎃

How can I get a Beijing license plate car as a foreigner? Are there reasonable leasing options for 1-2 years? The chinese EVs are beautiful and I would love to get one, but the sales people don't have a reasonable solution for a Beijing license plate.

I’ll be moving to Beijing for 2 years pretty soon, and I know there are hiphop/rap clubs, events, groups, communities, i speak Chinese, but I was wondering if anyone here knew anything about where to find them?

I am genuinely interested in going to a spa while here. Think it’s a great idea that cities have them. Any recommendations or suggestions or good deals? No need to be fancy, but good and clean. Also, is it weird to look for spa buddies?

My family is looking to adopt a small-mid, hypoallergenic dog. Ideally house trained and not too noisy. I've heard horror stories of puppy mills in china, so would prefer to adopt..

Any good indoor padel clubs in Beijing? I've tried some of the outdoor ones and they are not ideal.. also, it's getting too cold to play outside. Anyone tried Signature Padel Club in Shunyi? Heard it is indoor and nice

Looking for suggestion for western breakfast, think pancakes/bacon and this sort of stuff.
Thanks!

Do you have any recommendations of places where I could buy golf bags, golf clubs and clothes?

Hi everyone :)

I am currently in Beijing and wanted to get a new tattoo here!

Does anyone recommend a tattoo artist that speaks English and is in the central area (or inside the second ring) of Beijing?

Thanks a lot!

Hey all. I’m visiting Beijing with my wife and four year old. Are there any public playgrounds or play centers near the center of town that I could take my son to blow off some steam? Not easy to find on web search. Thanks so much for your help!

I'm imagining some cool strip where there are multiple types of bars, breweries, cafes, maybe live music? Bands in the bars? Art galleries?

I went to Santilun and was underwhelmed. I don't like clubs and it was really small, plus it was empty until like 11 and I'm like, not looking to party all night, I'm looking to walk, hear some local music, and have a drink like at 7pm

Dear swarm intelligence,

where do I find awesome macarons which at least come close to the original French craft? i.e. super light (not hard and crunchy), not too sweet, no weird stuffings (some of the newer creations seem to look like giant flowers or burgers), just original French style. If you have experiences with delivery, even better.

I have seen following ideas floated, but most are ages old, and newer ones are mostly ads:
- Grand Hyatt Restaurant 66 Floor
- Comptoir de France
- Pierre Marcolini
- 闪电巴黎...

Glad for any advice, you'll have my eternal thanks

I live in Beijing. If you moved here from somewhere else, what changed in your daily routine? Maybe when you eat, how you shop, or what you do after work. If you've left Beijing, what have you kept doing?

I dropped it in my bag right at the scanner, the bag when through the scanner, I opened my bag to scan into the metro and it was gone. I am confused about how this could happen.

I blocked the card but I would like it back as we are travelling China for 2 more weeks! If someone found it would they hand it in? And where?

I already asked at the metro desk right after the scanner and they said they did not have it

Hey guys! I’m an international student living in Beijing and looking to get into hiking and mountain trekking.
I was wondering if anyone here goes hiking on weekends or knows any good trails around Beijing. Would be nice to join a group, explore some mountains, and meet new people along the way.
If you have any recommendations or are planning a hike soon, let me know! I’d love to join. :)

Does anyone have any recommendations for a tailor that could make a custom evening gown based off photos? I don't mind paying a bit more for quality - looking for someone reliable who can work with silk, with a turnaround time of about 6 days.

I'm seeing a lot of suggestions in this sub for suit tailors, but not sure if that would translate to dresses. Thanks!

Can anyone tell me the repercussions of breaking a rental lease?

I'm 2 months in on a one year lease and I hate my apartment. There's new construction outside that keeps me awake, mold thrift the house that was hidden by paint, and the building entry does not lock and smells of urine. None of these things were evident the two times I looked at the apartment prior to renting.

I'm fine not getting my 1 months rent deposit back, but as a foreigner are there any additional penalties I'll face if I break a lease?

Hey everyone!
I’m an international student at USTB, around the Shayang Road area in Changping, Beijing. I’m looking for a place to train Muay Thai or some people who are already training nearby.
I’ve trained Muay Thai before and want to keep training while I’m here in Beijing.
Does anyone know of any good Muay Thai gyms around Changping, or is anyone interested in training together?
Any recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks! 🙏🥊

Can anyone recommend a massage parlor that offers traditional Tui Na massage? Prefer some place near the Beijing West Station / Xizhan area but willing to visit other areas.

How crowded will it be?

Hi, I figured I'd start a series of posts with intineraries for days out in various Beijing neighborhoods. This is 100% my opinion, based on my travels in Beijing, nothing AI generated! Everything I discuss will be using the name from Amap, which should make searching easy.

Xisi in Context

This neighborhood lies in the middle of Xicheng district, to the west of Beihai Park. It's far less busy than it's eastern counterpart Dongsi, but it still has the old-fashioned hutong charm, and is a very pleasant place to go for a walk. It's accessible by Xisi Station on Line 4.

1. Coffee at 1901 Cafe

This cafe inhabits a former annex of the nearby Catholic church. The old, slightly creaky floor boards and dusty walls give it a unique atmosphere in constantly modernizing Beijing. This is an ideal place to get some studying or work done, or just enjoy the weather from their balcony.

2. Explore Beijing's Catholic History at 西什库主教座堂 (Xishiku Cathedral/Church of the Saviour)

To continue the Catholic theme, check out the home of Beijing's Archdiocese, which dates back to 1703, built by French Jesuits. The 2018 renovations were controversial, so form your own opinion!

3. Go calendar shopping at 挂历金大爷 (Calendar Grandpa Jin)

Yes, calendar shopping! This strange little hole in the wall shop sells wall calendars in different styles and from different time periods. The store has managed to stay open for the past 50 years, and is still run by Grandpa Jin himself.

4. Catch up on your reading at 红楼公共藏书楼 (Honglou Public Library)

Situated in a former cinema, this is one of Beijing's most unique and pleasant libraries. There is a slim selection of English books, a cafe, and plenty of space to read or study.

5. Check out 万松老人塔 (Pagoda of Elder Wansong)

As you leave Honglou, you may see a pagoda peaking over the hutong roofs across the street. This little pagoda was built in honor of the Buddhist Monk Wansong by his disciples in the 13th century. There is also an attached bookstore.

6. A typical Beijing dinner at 八条一号餐厅 (No. 1, Alley 8 Restaurant)

Slightly off the main street, this restaurant offers traditional Beijing fare and a comfortable atmosphere. The staff are infectiously nice and the environment is exactly what you want out of a hutong restaurant.

Hope you enjoyed! Let me know if you have any questions 😄

Hello, anyone with a recommendation for an optometrist in the Haidian area? I would like to get spectacles.