So many great comments on the forum, I hope it's ok to post something like this and try to tap those again.

So I have been reading up to try and make the most of my 3 days in Beijing (actually 4 but leaving at 4pm on the last day kinda kills it as a day) will be arriving Aug 9 and departing the 13th after spending a week and a half visiting family in Dalian.

I have been many times, and probably scene all the tourist attractions at one point or another. But the girlfriend hasn't and wants to do the tourist thing so we would like to get as much of that in as possible...

I was originally going to book the day tours via chinatripadvisor.com as $20-30 gets you a ride and entrance and they claim to include lunch although I am thinking they drop you at a restaraunt, not buy you lunch...

But our time is very limited there and from what I read it seems that these tour trips force you to spend a lot of time in trap shopping destinations... I would rather not waste my time in overpriced shops and clinics.

Also I would like to see the Beijing acrobats (not at all interested in opera) and of course eat a lot of good food...

So I have a few ideas what I would like to do and a few hiccps that I hope running by you all will give me an idea of if I am on a solid track or not...

So far I am thinking:

First off lodging - I am trying to keep a pretty good budget so hoping to get hotels for under $70 anight. Warwick apts and Grand View Gardens both seem fitting but I have no attachments to any particular places if anyone has recommendations. Also I would consider staying in a hostel (I am not above that kind of thing at all) considering I am hoping to spend most of my time not in my room, worries there are security and reliability (I really don't trust pictures in China so I don't want to find out my room is a total dump and the bathrooms don't work etc). At the price some of the hostels go for I am considering getting a room in one near the attractions just to have a stopping off point for $8 a day or so. We are both near 30 though so I am also afraid age limits or extra charges may kick in. Any experience or advice?

Next up travel - Train into Beijing arrive in the morning (here is the first hiccup, what to do with luggage since check in time is 3pm for most hotels) and probably just hire taxis or walk to nearby sites. The $20 -$50pp tour packages seem like a good deal to take care of transit but not if they screw you into wasting time... I figure taxis from any of the major sites shouldn't run too high correct? Moondog mentioned he knew some drivers worth their salt... also if you are in town Moondog... feel free to collect on previously offered free drinks!

Leaving on the airplane at 4pm and I figure it should be pretty straightforward getting a taxi to the airport...

Siteseeing - Sites of interest are Tiananmen,Great Wall, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, Beijing Acrobats - please feel free to suggest anything!

I am thinking

Day 1: Arrive, get situated, walk around Tienanmen a bit, maybe some shopping and eating etc. If I arrive early enough and feel like it maybe spend an afternoon at the summer palace, get it out of the way.

Day 2: Great Wall - suggestions welcome on the best sections to visit, when and where to head once you get there. I think I read that if you go straight up the north tower and keep going there is a back section that is not very populated and peaceful away from the crowds. Hope to get this done early in the day while it's still coolish and maybe go to the temple of heaven in the afternoon, finish with acrobat show and duck dinner (I notice that's often offered as a tour package however I prefer to go to restaurants recommended by others, I see moondog has a thread recommending a duck place).

Day 3: Forbidden City first thing, again while it's cool. I hear most people go in from Tiananmen, however if you enter from the other end you can get a good view and catch old people doing TaiChi (which I like to watch). Sadly it seems all audio tours are set up for the other direction. See anything else I haven't yet maybe try and check out the old stuff and Hutongs; spend the evening shopping and eating and walking around.

Day 4: Early breakfast and last minute shopping, off to the airport.

Dining I LOVE eating ethnic... for me traveling is first about the food and people, second about the sites. You can see pictures of places anytime, but eating and meeting are things you can't get anyway besides first person.

I want to expose my GF to as many food experiences as possible... not necessarily gross or shocking, just the things you might not be able to get stateside so easily. I personally will eat almost anything and have a pension for things like fried scorpions, chicken foot soop etc (no blood anything, very bad experience with blood sausage once).

I definitely want to hit up some jiaodze places as who doesn't love those but as for the rest of it, I am would love any recommendations... I don't care particularly for fancy, I do like authentic and preferably inexpensive.

I hope that wasn't asking too much but we lead such busy schedules I don't know if or when I will get another opportunity to do this with my GF so I am hoping to get it right. I have been to Beijing over a dozen times, but every time had family or friends showing me around. This time I won't have the luxury so much.

I have seen a few tour books mentioned specifically, but if anyone has any they want to recommend I would be greatful!

Oh and I know to watch out for tea services and art galleries...