The South Gong and Drum Lane is known for its long history, Beijing’s hutong culture, stores and distinctive foods.HUANG XIAOBING / FOR CHINA DAILY

You may want to finish the day off by catching a performance of Peking Opera. I'd recommend one of those easy-to-digest shows customized for international travelers, but if you're more adventurous, there's more variety at the National Center for the Performing Arts - less touristy, more authentic and of a much higher caliber. The venue itself is worth the price of admission.

Day 4

This day is designed for those with boundless energy and who have finished all stops on the previous portion of the schedule.

The Summer Palace in a northwestern suburb of the city is a sprawl of exquisite corridors and a huge lake. Before it was built, there was the Old Summer Palace, or Yuanmingyuan, which was looted and burned down in 1860 during the Second Opium War. The ruins are a stark reminder of imperialist invasion and feudal impotence.

Buddhism is a major religion in China, with millions of temples dotting the nation's landscape. You cannot possibly avoid them when you venture deep into the country. But inside Beijing, the Lama Temple, though not a typical site of worship for most Chinese, has a unique fascination. It is a symbol of Tibetan Buddhism.

If people watching at Shichahai is tantalizing, you may want to spend the last night in Beijing in Sanlitun, the serious nightlife area and a favorite with the hip crowd, local and foreign. Here, bartenders may be able to speak English and the favorite drink of your homeland could be available.

Beijing has many charms, which it reconciles in a vibrant mix of rhythm and imagery. It may not represent all of China, but it is a pretty good place to start exploring the wonders of the whole country.