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I've always been interested in China, an old and mysterious country, and I decided to go to Beijing with my girlfriend for the 29th Olympic Games. We'll stay in Beijing for about one week but we are not familiar with the city. So if there is anybody that can recommend us some interesting places to go, I'd appreciate a lot!

Go to Nan Luoguxiang near the Bell Tower. Good, reasonably priced food and interesting shops. Avoid the bars of Houhai at night--over-priced and filled with annoying people trying to sell you useless crap. Do not go to Badaling section of the Great Wall. Definitely go to Lama Temple and Temple of Heaven. Skip Tian'anmen Square during the Olympics--not much to see there and it's going to be filled with hundreds of police.

For decent souvenirs, take a train to Tianjin for a day. Shop owners aren't as pushy as in Beijing, and usually a little cheaper.

Try eating at smaller restaurants. The bigger ones tend to be more expensive and not as good.

Beware of "art students" asking to take you to a show and then claiming it's the last day for it. Be friendly, politely decline the invitation, and move on.

And when bargaining, the best way to get the price you want is to WALK AWAY SLOWLY. The vendor will shout after you with a lower price.

I went to Beijing last year.

The Great Wall is close by, & there are 3-4 main locations to see it. Badaling is where most of the tourist hordes go, & will be packed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badaling

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutianyu

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simatai

A fourth locale is Jiankou, but it's very steep, dangerous, and partly in disrepair, more so than Simatai. Mutianyu would be my pick, as I've already seen Badaling.

In Beijing itself, don't miss the Forbidden City, Tianamen Square, The Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, the Tibetan Lama Temple, near Yonghe Subway Station, & the Dongyue Taoist temple at Chaowai.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beijing_Dongyue_Temple

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yonghe_Temple

http://www.ehow.com/how_2250648_see-beijings-top-ten-attractions.html

If you're aching for a fix of Western Fast food and coffee, Chongwengmen has Pizza Hut, MacDonalds, Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts, KFC etc.

Hello Hello,

I strongly recommend doing the Great wall hike between Jinshanling and Simatai, about a 10km hike, you won't be dissappoined!

Safe Travels