[Rick Lee]

In Beijing be sure to not go to any touristy restaurants. If they have English menus, stay away. Get a local student for a guide and have them take you to the good places. Be sure to explore some of the cool alleyways off of Wanfujing Dajie. If you go to the Great Wall, go to Mutianyu, not Badaling. You'll be rushed by armies of folks hawking things either way. But Mutianyu will be less crowded and the drive out there is kinda pretty. It reminded me a bit of Sonoma Valley. Porsche dealership is just down the street from the giant Chairman Mao portrait on the East gate of the Forbidden City. If you want to see the real China, fly west somewhere. Beijing is waaaay too touristy and has way too many foreigners. Go to Chongqing or Chengdu.

Be sure to get a foot massage too. The blind ladies that do the full body massages are amazing. It's dirt cheap, as long as you don't go somewhere that has English signs. Take a local with you to get reasonable prices.