Asia - 24 hours from Beijing - where to go ?

As part of a fortnight's RTW in August, I will have about two and a half days in Beijing. Whilst Beijing is one of my favourite cities, I'm thinking about going somewhere else for about 24 hours. Does anyone have any suggestions where to go ?

I've been to Beijing (a number of times in recent years), Kunming, Lijiang, Zhongdian, Xiamen and, more than ten years ago, Shanghai, Xi'an, Chengde, Guilin and Suzhou.

There's obviously enough to see in China for a lifetime but ideas which I've been suggested so far include:

(i) Shanghai (a lot has changed since I've been there but, at the end of the day, it's another big city);

(ii) Pingyao's old town;

(iii) the home Confucius at Qufu; and

(iv) Harbin or Dalian.

Harbin in July/August is a great choice. ^ While most of the year its freezing cold in Harbin, the weather is terrific in late summer whereas a lot of the rest of China (including Beijing) is just plain hot and nasty during those months. The best part about it is the tons of beer gardens they've got in Harbin during the summer. People just sit out there and drink Harbin Beer or whatever other beer they choose. There are beer gardens for many of the major types of Int'l and Chinese beers along every corner of the main street in Harbin. There must be 50 beer gardens along the mile stretch. Good time and I would love to go there again during the summer. ^ Although in full disclosure I have to say I've never been to the other cities you list during the late summer. Dalien would probably be pretty nice as well. Shanghai might be a bit warm.........................