Originally Posted by
moondog
I like the presentation of their duck and the ambiance is cool, but there are many better ducks in town.
Aren't you the person that's only going to be in town for ~17 hours, and staying at the airport? If so, Liqun near Dongzhimen, followed by some Sanlitun action, could be a better bet. For local, you could try Ghost Street or street food in any lively area (the spots that attract lots of people are generally decent).
Good memory (that's actually another leg of the trip)! For the first part, I'll be in town for four nights at the PH Beijing, so there will be more time to spend exploring the city, checking out sights, etc. Given that, I am open to most any type of place and appreciate your/the forum's recommendations!