Beijing Travel Forum

we 2 women from the states are meeting her potential Daughter-in-law In beijing. She is from Chendu..any special/unusual suggestions for our 5 days in Beijing since we will be with her? I want to see the usual tourist stuff but I like off the usual path as well and we can do it with her..I'm SO excited!!

This is an exciting sojourn -- meeting a future daughter-in-law!

Well, most Chinese people consider it a privilege to visit the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, so those are deniftely on your list. When I went, it was a Chinese holiday and a lot of them were enjoying visitng the Tiananmen (whole families by the busloads).

However, she probably would not be interested in visiting the Hutong which would be the regular Chinese Village (she has lived it!). Instead, bring her with you to shop around at the Wangfujing St (shopping area) to observe modern day China.

And still go to the Great Wall, of course. Most tourists go to the one in Badaling, but remember that you can also go to the less-touristy Mutianyu.

She might also be interested to watch an acrobatic show with you during the night. Those are fun as well, and a nice way for you to "bond".

Other places to visit - Beihai Park, the Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven.

Stay away from tourist traps (I thought the silk, pearl and jade shops were tourist traps because they are a bit aggressive in selling you stuff). No offense.

Enjoy and have a great time, Norman :)

As for the Great Wall, Mutianyu is definately still very touristy. Simaitai would be a much better choice.

One of the days, you may like to check out Nanluoguxiang. It's a Chinese Alley(Hutong), with old houses, cool clothing shops, restaurants, coffee shops along it, that place has become a little more touristy than before, but worth seeing.

I'm also a fan of Nanluogu Alley.
How about the Olympic Green, perhaps? I think the Olympics meant a lot to most Chinese.