The biggest hurdle, for me anyway, is the Visa. Unless there is an Embassy or Consulate in your home city, this process can take some time, costs money, requires documentation (and giving up your Passport), etc. I also needed a letter of invitation, but this was required for Business purposes. I did get a Visw in three days using an expediting service. As an aside, you can get a Visa in HKG in three hours (and it's cheaper), so in a pinch I have traveled there first. Organized trips are easy to find and schedule, the best bet is to use your hotel Concierge. I've found the ebst way to get from the airport to the hotel is to arrange this in advance with the hotel, although I have taken a taxi directly. Language can be a problem, but you can ask the hotel staff to write the details of your destination on the back of their card, which can also be used to get you back! Taxis are plentiful and cost-effective for getting around Beijing