• Take a stroll. Walk around the acclaimed 798 Space in the Dashanzi Art District, and you will not only find a maze of galleries to explore, but the Timezone 8 book store and eatery offers American visitors a taste of home, courtesy of Texan owner Robert Bernell. Another neighborhood you can visit to clear your head is Hou Hai. According to Mah, 'There's a man-made lake in the middle that dates back to the 19th century, and the whole area is surrounded by narrow alleys that date back to Mongol times.'
• Grab a drink: 'The most famous drinking area is Sanlitun, though the main strip of neon-lit bars is a tourist trap full of ‘lady bar' touts and overpriced beer,' says Boyce. Instead, he suggests checking out the side roads, where you can find familiar watering holes like Union Bar & Grille. Closer to the central business district, Eimer says both LAN Club and Xiu Bar, which is in the Park Hyatt, are classy options for clients. He adds, 'Most business in China is conducted over meals, and you will be expected to drink with your hosts.'
Dig Deeper: In-flight Relaxation
How to Survive a Business Trip in Beijing: What to See
Without question, you could spend a whole day walking on the Great Wall, meandering through the Forbidden City or winding your way around the Summer Palace. Still, says Eimer, you can squeeze more sightseeing into one day than you might think. Here, he lays out the game plan for a day's worth of touring:
1. Start with the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, which lies right in front of the City's gates. The centuries-old palace was once home to emperors in the Ming Dynasty, and the massive Tiananmen plaza was the site of the infamous protests of 1989, in which peaceful student protesters were violently subdued by the military, ending in an untold number of deaths. Now, on any given day, it's flooded with people, so it's wise to watch your bags.
2. Take a cab to the Temple of Heaven, which consists of a Taoist-style central temple surrounded by smaller altars. Test out the nearby Echo Wall, which has been constructed to carry even quiet sounds great distances.
3. Hop in another cab and end the day at the Summer Palace. It's unlike anything you've seen before, and you won't likely see anything like it again. The Palace sits high on a hill by the Kunming Lake, which is surrounded by traditional-style pavilions and bridges. Climb the stairs up to the Palace, but take the long way down using pathways that lead you back to ground level.
Outside of Beijing, of course, is the Great Wall. If you choose to make the trip, Eimer suggests the Badaling section, because, he says, 'You get the classic vista of the Wall snaking off into the distance, and it's the closest section of the Wall to Beijing.' Get there early enough and you stand a chance of beating the crowds and making it back to Beijing in time to see Tiananmen and the Forbidden City.
Guidebooks may also direct you to the extreme food stalls at the Night Markets, where vendors serve everything from dumplings to scorpion and testicle skewers. Mah says skip it. 'People don't really eat that way in China,' she says. 'It's a tourist attraction.' As an alternative, head over to stalls at Jiumen Xiaochi, a once outdoor food market that has been relocated to an old courtyard building. 'It's a charming traditional style food court, and I like it more than the Night Market,' Mah says. Location: 1 Xiaoyou Hutong, Phone: +86-01-6402-5858.
Dig Deeper: Getting Going in China
How to Survive a Business Trip in Beijing: Essential Information
• Currency. China's currency is the yuan. You may see the abbreviation RMB used in pricing, as well. The conversion rate is such that 1 yuan equals roughly 15 cents.
• Transportation. All sources say that taxis are an easy, cost-efficient way to get around. 'Beijing taxi drivers are honest and always use their meters,' Eimer says, so you don't have to be concerned about getting ripped off. If you don't speak Chinese, though, Eimer says, 'Get your hotel to write down your destination and always carry the hotel's card so you can get back home.'
• Additional information: City Weekend is an English-language magazine with helpful information about what's going on in Beijing. Your hotel may also carry Time Out Beijing.
