Any MetroJaxer's been? Looking for some local opinions...
Thoughts? Recommendations?
As for specific recommendations, it depends on what type of traveler you are and what you want to see. Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City are a must. Most visitors also go out to the nearby Badaling section of the Great Wall, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, etc. Definitely take time to meander through at least one of the hutongs left in the city. As for temples, Yonghe was my favorite. Ox St. Mosque is also a recommend, as well as a Confucian place (name escapes me) that took a bit of work to get to, but it was serene and had a working traditional medicine clinic (not my thing, but interesting to observe).
Avoid making a trip to Beijing all about its history. If you can, spend some mornings in neighborhood parks, talk to young people in cafes, and spend an hour or two in the posh new districts--$65,000 ginseng available at a supermarket will give you a clear idea of level of wealth (and wealth disparity) of today's China. 789 Art Zone is absolutely fantastic if you're interested in contemporary art, censorship issues, and generational perspectives on China.
Subway is easy (albeit crowded at peak hours), but make sure you have a map with destinations in labeled in both English and Mandarin if you're going to take cabs. If you're foodie inclined, eat everywhere and everything (skip the silly tourist night market with fried spiders and such).
If you're looking for an easy trips outside of Beijing, check out seat61.com. I found the Z trains comfortable, clean, and relatively cheap for overnight journeys (definitely read Seat 61's ticket buying guide) and Beijing's main rail stations are an experience (as large as major US airports).
Feel free to PM me with more questions or for info. Happy travels!
Fantastic response, really more than I could ask for. Will PM you as the date gets closer. Going for 5-6 days in November. My first stop for research, for any trip, is to drop by MJ and see if any locals have been to these spots.
Thanks again!