Beijing

In one day

Get up at the crack of dawn and head straight for the Temple of Heaven, starting at the south gate, where as well as seeing the 500-year-old temple itself, you'll get to watch local old folk doing tai chi, singing traditional songs and writing calligraphy.

Exit the temple's north gate and first head west, then north up Qianmen Dajie until you hit the clusters of hutongs around Qianmen and Dazhalan, taking the time to explore the shops that are still selling the same Chinese medicines they were touting in the Qing Dynasty. Grab some noodles from one of the local stalls before continuing north to TiananmenSquare, heading towards Chairman Mao's Portrait. It was from this rostrum that the Communist leader declared the People's Republic in 1949. Pass underneath the portrait and into the ForbiddenCity, the magnificent Imperial Palace of the Ming and Qing Emperors. At the north end, hop in a cab to the beautiful BeihaiPark, or walk if your legs are still up for it. Stroll around this imperial playground for a while before heading north again via Gulou Dajie for a pre-dinner drink on HouhaiLake. Try the No Name bar, one of the first in the area, for pleasant views and atmosphere. Rested? Then jump in a cab to Guijie - the 24-hour food street laced with red lanterns - and pick one of the hundreds of restaurants serving hot pot or typical Beijing dishes (such as Huajia Yiyuan at No. 235).

In five days

Get up early and head to the Great Wall on the second day. Despite being a little further away, the Simatai section of the Wall is one of the most undisturbed and beautiful, and worth the extra time investment. If you've got the guts, swing down on the zip wire over the lake. Try some Beijing duck  at the hip new Duck de Chine restaurant, then wind down with a foot massage at Oriental Taipan.

On day three, check out the 798 Art district where you can relax with a cappuccino or lunch before checking out the art. From here, cab back to Gongti Bei Lu (near the Workers' Stadium north gate) and stop at Yashow Market - yes, we know it's full of tourists, but there's a reason. Cheap clothes and even cheaper DVDs make it a great place to stock up on gifts before heading out to dinner. Getting in a taxi again, tell the driver to take you to the south gate of Ritan Park - the Temple of the Sun. As the evening draws in, spot the lovebirds kissing in the park's quiet corners, and head north toward the main altar. Continuing northeast you'll stumble across Xiao Wang Fu's restaurant. If it's a warm evening, head straight to the balcony where you can enjoy typical Chinese dishes overlooking the park.

On the fourth day, jump in a taxi or the subway to the west of the city and, if it takes your fancy, the Military Museum, where you'll get the chance to marvel at Mao Zedong's limo and Ming dynasty rocket launchers. Once out, walk north and you'll come across the beautiful Yuyuantan Park - a great place to take in the summer revelry before catching a boat to the Summer Palace (boats go from the southern Bayi lake hourly). Spend the afternoon floating around the former holiday home of the Empress Dowager Cixi before returning to the city for the city's best dumpling's at Din Tai Fung.

On the fifth day, particularly if it's a weekend, jump in a taxi to Panjiayuan, Beijing's famous outdoor dirt market where row after row of locals selling ‘antiques', books, jewellery and Mao memorabilia. From here, jump in another cab to the Lama Temple, and, after a spot of lunch at The Vineyard Cafe, visit the temple proper. One of the most tranquil, fragrant spots in the city, it also contains the biggest Buddha carved out of a single tree in the world. For dinner, take a taxi to the nearby Gulou Dong Dajie where you'll discover Beijing's best kept secret - Dali Courtyard, a  courtyard restaurant serving Yunnan provincial cuisine. The trendy Asian- themed Face Bar isn't a bad way to end your week.

Getting there

Qantas flies Sydney to Beijing daily from $1876. 

Book activities around Sydney through Time Out