Beijing in Five Days

Our whirlwind tour of the Chinese capital includes all of the must-see spots

Start by following "Beijing in One Day ," and if the hangover’s not too bad, get up early and head to the Great Wall on the second day. Despite being a little further away than most, the Simatai section of the Wall is one of the most undisturbed and beautiful, and worth the extra time investment. If you’ve got the guts, swing down on the zip wire over the lake to the bottom again before making your way back to the city. Try some Beijing duck for dinner at the hip new Duck de Chine restaurant, then wind down by getting a foot massage with your companions at Oriental Taipan.

On day three, check out the 798 Art district , where you can relax with a cappuccino or lunch before seeing if there are any paintings you (or your wallet) like the look of.

From here, take a cab back to Gongti Bei Lu (near the Workers’ Stadium north gate) and stop off at Yashow Market – yes, we know its full of tourists, but there’s a reason. Cheap clothes and even cheaper DVDs make it a great place to stock up on gifts before heading out to dinner. Getting in a taxi again, tell the driver to take you to Ritan Park – the Temple of the Sun – south gate. As the evening draws in, spot the young lovebirds kissing and cuddling in the park’s quiet corners, and head north toward the main altar. Continuing north east you’ll stumble accross Xiao Wang Fu’s restaurant. If it’s a warm evening, head straight to the balcony where you can enjoy an array of tasty and typical Chinese dishes overlooking the park.

On the fourth day, taxi or subway to the west of the city and, if it takes your fancy, the Military Museum , where you’ll get the chance to marvel at Mao Zedong’s limo and Ming dynasty rocket launchers. Once out, walk north and you’ll come across the beautiful (and big) Yuyuantan Park – a great place to take in the summer revelry before catching a boat to the Summer Palace (boats go from the southern Bayi lake hourly). Spend the afternoon floating around the vast and beautiful former holiday home of the Empress Dowager Cixi before returning to the city and enjoying the city’s best dumpling’s at Din Tai Fung .

On the fifth day, particularly if it’s a weekend, jump in a taxi to Panjiayuan , Beijing’s famous outdoor dirt market. Row after row of locals selling ‘antiques’, books, jewellery and Mao memorabilia create a wonderful hubbub, and you’re sure to come away with armfuls of souvenirs. From here, jump in another taxi to the Lama Temple , and, after a spot of lunch at The Vineyard Cafe, pay up and visit the temple proper. One of the most tranquil (and fragrant) spots in the city, it also contains the biggest Buddha carved out of a single tree in the world. For dinner, taxi to the nearby Gulou Dong Dajie where you’ll discover Beijing’s best kept secret – Dali Courtyard , a beautiful courtyard restaurant serving tasty cuisine from Yunnan Province. If you’ve got the energy, a final drink in the trendy Asian-themed Face Bar isn’t a bad way to end your week.