I'm headed to China on the 18th of September. We only have 3 days in Beijing and 3 days in Shenyang. Any suggestions on what I should do/should skip (particularly in the Shenyang area)?

Find a hutong and get lost in it. Act fast, many of the best hutongs have already been knocked down. There is a good one around the Drum Tower and Beihei Lake.

Peking duck, perhaps a cliche, but a tasty one. I like the duck at Da Dongs (Big Dongs), on the corner of Gongren Tiyuchangbei Lu and Gongren Tiyuchangdong Lu. Accross the street from Da Dongs, in the basement of a building is my favorite noodle shop in Beijing. I loved to sit in there slurping spicy noodles and sipping a large bottle of beer. Their spicy cucumbers are also a treat. Dumplings and roasted sweet potatoes from street vendors make for a great lunch. Speaking of street food, at the Wangfujing Snack Street and the Wangfujing Night market you can get everything from scorpians on a stick to stinky tofu and more palatable for most chicken and noodle dishes.

For sights, I am partial to Tiantan (Temple of Heaven) Park, especially early in the morning when many of the residents of Beijing are excercising or starting their ballroom dancing class in the park.

Ballroom dancing in the park?! That sure didn't make the LP guide

Thanks so much for the tips!

In Beijing, I suggest checking out the restored hutong neighborhood around Nan Luoguxiang (just a short walk east of the Bell and Drum towers). Very cool artsy shops and good food (check out Pass By for hutong pizza and some other great snacks). It's a good idea to stop by after a long day of walking... 1-hr foot massage is 38RMB. Also, there are a bunch of small and inexpensive bars in the area--some are really quiet and relaxing... try Catcher in the Rye (it's off the main alley and easy to miss).