Beijing Legation Quarter — The Five Dragons Plan
Uncover the secret Five Dragons Plan hidden during the 1900 Boxer Siege of the Foreign Legations. Decode clues across the Quarter to expose the traitors who nearly doomed the defenders.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In June 1900, the Boxer Rebellion erupted in Beijing's Legation Quarter, where foreign diplomats, missionaries, and civilians barricaded themselves against thousands of Qing soldiers and fanatical Box
Beijing Legation Quarter — The Five Dragons Plan
You are a special envoy for the Eight-Nation Alliance, arriving in Beijing's besieged Legation Quarter in the summer of 1900.
Your urgent mission is to secure the foreign
Delve into the alleys of Dongjiaominxiang in Beijing, where China's diplomatic history was forged between 1861 and 1959, at the heart of a foreign enclave.
The story that haunts this land
Your investigation begins in Dongjiaominxiang, this 2 km² foreign diplomatic zone established between 1861 and 1959, immediately east of Tiananmen Square. It was here, after the Boxer Protocol of 1901, that the area was encircled by a wall and Chinese residents expelled, symbolizing foreign aggression for nationalists. You explore the remnants of over 20 countries that established legations here, including Great Britain and the United States, recognizing the distinctive Western architecture with its wrought-iron gates and stone sculptures that led to this hutong street being protected as a cultural site in 2001.
The route first takes you to the Old British Embassy Site, established after 1901 and an integral part of this walled enclave housing some 2000 foreigners isolated from the surrounding millions of Chinese. Then, you discover the Old US Embassy Site, a key diplomatic center during the 1861-1959 period. These architectural remnants, preserved during recent renovations, are now integrated into cafes and cultural galleries, offering a unique perspective on Beijing's past.
As you progress, you reach the Old Austro-Hungarian Legation Site, another example of early 20th-century architecture blending Qing and Western styles along the 1.5 km street. Nearby, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, or Dongtang, built in 1904, was Beijing's first Catholic church. It survived the 1900 turmoil, even serving as a hospital during the Boxer Siege, a testament to resilience at the heart of the Legation Quarter.
Your quest takes you slightly away from the diplomatic quarter to approach Qianmen Gate, a historic city gate built under the Ming dynasty in 1420. The 100-meter-wide red avenue leading to the Qianmen tower offers an iconic view from the quarter. Then, the Old Beijing Astronomical Observatory, built in 1442 under the Ming dynasty and located about 1 km to the east, displays its 17th-century bronze astronomical instruments, restored and visible, connecting you to the city's scientific heritage.
Finally, the Dongbianmen Corner Tower, a Ming fortification from 1420 east of the Legation Quarter, marks the end of your exploration. Part of the inner city walls, this restored tower offers a breathtaking view of the historic quarter you've just traversed. This walking tour in Beijing will have revealed the layers of a complex history, from the Boxer Rebellion to Qing-Western architecture, imprinting upon your mind the richness of Beijing's heritage, a millennia-old city and crossroads of influences.
A game, a guided tour and a heritage guide — all in one
You're not just buying an escape game. You're carrying a living guide — historical anecdotes, forgotten legends, key monuments, hidden architecture — unfolding as you go.
At each stop, places ordinary guides miss — secret façades, sculpted crests, alleys steeped in history.
Every riddle is rooted in a real historical fact or local legend. You leave with dozens of stories to tell.
Learn to read buildings — flamboyant Gothic, Baroque, Art Deco — like a real art historian, while having fun.
Walk through the city like a novel's character — every alley becomes a stage, every square a theatre.
A voice walks with you at every step, tells the story of each place, reads clues, adds a cinematic feel.
Keep access to the guide & game for 1 year. Come back any time, share it with friends.
« You will not leave this city the way you entered it. »
How does it work?
Explore the city on foot solving puzzles based on real historical facts. No locked room — the city is your playground.
No app to download. Play directly from your browser. Guided step by step, at your own pace.
One purchase per phone is enough. Play with family, friends or as a couple — everyone participates.
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears and speaks to you in your language. Golden letters magically write themselves on the wall to reveal the puzzle answer.
Stuck? Progressive personalised hints. The character repeats the puzzle on demand — at your own pace.
French, English, German, Spanish, Italian + 27 other languages auto-translated by AI.
Want to go deeper?
Places tied to your adventure — optional entries, totally up to you · per person
The Route
8 stages through the city
The gameplay: AR, camera, hidden clues
At each stop, open your phone camera: an augmented reality character appears on the façade and speaks your language. Hunt the clue — it materializes as golden letters on the real wall or floats in front of you. When you find it, the phone vibrates, an AR chest opens and reveals your answer fragment. 8 stops, 8 clues to find with the camera, 1 final code.
The stops on your route are a surprise. You'll discover them one by one, guided by your phone, starting from the meeting point.
How does it work with a group?
One phone = one team. Pick the number at checkout (1 to 10).
Solo, or a group sharing the screen. One team, one code.
Family, couple, or 2-3 teams competing. Each phone has its own code and its own score.
Friends, bachelor/bachelorette, small office outing — each their own code, each plays at their own pace. Tiered pricing then €6 flat per phone from the 6th.
- ✓All codes are independent — play at the same time OR separately, each team advances at its own pace.
- ✓Leaderboard between your teams + global game leaderboard — each score appears in the public ranking.
- ✓More than 10 phones or need a personalized quest? Discover custom tours.
Ready to live this adventure?
Get my code · 12€No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒 Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
Practical info
Why this route?
The Boxer Rebellion
Immerse yourself in one of the bloodiest revolts in Chinese history, where nationalism and mysticism challenged Western imperialism.
The Siege of the Legations
Relive the 55 days of desperate survival for foreign diplomats and civilians, trapped within Beijing's Legation Quarter.
The Eight-Nation Alliance
Follow the daring march of the international relief force, an unprecedented coalition that came to deliver the besieged.
In the fury of the Boxers, only a daring plan can save the besieged.
Will you be able to decipher the Five Dragons Plan and change the course of history?
9 features nobody else has
OddballTrip combines gamified play, augmented reality and AI. All our competitors deliver 1 or 2 of these angles. We deliver all 5.
AR treasure chest
A golden chest floats in front of the monument. Tap → opening animation → reveals a secret message.
AR narrator character
Point your phone at the façade: a knight, witch, monk, sailor, detective or ghost appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language with their dedicated ElevenLabs voice (each character has their own unique voice) — your living guide.
Magic golden letters
At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's the puzzle answer. An unforgettable visual effect.
Written + audio narration
Every puzzle available as text AND voice-over: read at your own pace or listen eyes-free while walking. Great in groups and for accessibility.
360° radar + vibration
A mini-radar shows the target even behind you, and the phone vibrates when you aim in the right direction.
Heritage storytelling
Every puzzle weaves in real historical facts (architecture, era, anecdotes). You learn by playing — like a gamified audioguide.
Progressive AI hints
3 levels of AI-generated help: vibe → where to look → answer format. You're never stuck.
AR selfie memento
At the end of the game, capture a selfie with OddballTrip banner + mascot, shareable on Instagram, TikTok.
Zero app to install
PWA technology: open the link, it plays in your browser. Same quality as an app, no App Store hassle.
Frequently asked questions
Q01Do I need to download an app?
No, never. You get a link, you click, it plays in your browser. That's the point of a PWA: same as an app, without the hassle.
Q02Does it work offline?
GPS yes (handled by your phone). Maps yes (tiles cached). AI and hints need an intermittent 4G connection.
Q03How long does a game take?
1 h 30 to 2 h 30 depending on your pace. The timer runs but only for the leaderboard — you play at your own tempo.
Q04What happens if I'm stuck?
You get 3 levels of hints per puzzle (increasing penalty). If truly stuck, you can skip the step (45-min penalty but you keep going).
Q05What's the age range?
From 12 without an adult, from 6 with an adult reading puzzles. Works for families, couples, friend groups, companies.
Q06What if my city isn't in the catalogue?
Pre-register or contact us — we'll email you as soon as your city is live.
Q07What is augmented reality exactly?
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language. At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's your answer. After each puzzle solved, a treasure chest floats in front of you. Seeing is believing.
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Your turn to play
Delve into the alleys of Dongjiaominxiang in Beijing, where China's diplomatic history was forged between 1861 and 1959, at the heart of a foreign enclave.
1 purchase = 1 phone. Play several on the same device.
No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
🪙+24 TripCoins granted with your booking
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