Thanks for all the answers!

First off, I've already ordered the trip to Beijing, so I'll need to go from and back to Beijing.

My plans are kinda fixed before and after this week with friends and family. So its only for Monday-Friday I want something else to do. I've sent an email to the embassy, and I will find out about the visa soon. From what you guys are writing it seems like I'm worrying to much though. I will get an invitation letter for Beijing from my sister (who is working there as an english teacher), so that wont be a problem.

About where I'm going. Inside China, I don't think Shanghai etc. seems that intresting, so if I'm going to stay inside China I want to more to see the villages and farmers etc. outside of the cities. But I speek no mandarin, and I'm guessing they speak no English. So since I'm travelling by myself this week, it seems to me it might get a bit troublesome. Anybody got any experience on that? I'll check the China forum for more info about other places to visit. Hong Kong also might be a good suggestion, I'll check it out!

I found plain tickets + reasonable hotel for around 7-800 dollars in both Tokyo and Seoul. And I'm guessing it's pretty expensive for food and drinks as well. It might be a bit too expensive for me, but I'm not sure yet. Any idea how much I will have to use on food and drinks for the trip? I'm not a splurger, but I would like to eat something else then just rice and noodles.

Another idea I thought of, was going to North Korea on an organized trip from Beijing. That would be really interesting, but I guess will need a visa then. Any experience in a trip like that?

I appreciate all the answers I get!

(btw. got no time to read through this, so my english might be really bad)