Beijing

The axis of imperial Beijing: Tiananmen Square and its museums, the Forbidden City, the two altar parks flanking the gate, and Qianmen–Dashilar, the old shopping quarter outside the front gate — plus the Capital Museum down the avenue.

The north end of the imperial axis: Jingshan's hilltop view over the Forbidden City, Beihai's lake and white dagoba, the Shichahai lakes with their hutong shoreline and residences, and the Drum and Bell Towers.

East of the axis: the Lama Temple and Confucius Temple–Imperial College pair on Guozijian Street, the hutong grid running south through Nanluoguxiang and the Dongsi alleys, the two hutong museums, and Wangfujing as the southern anchor.

South of Qianmen: the Temple of Heaven and its park, the Altar of Agriculture and the Natural History Museum opposite, and the Qing south city to the west — Liulichang, the Huguang Guild Hall, Niujie, Fayuan Temple and Taoranting.

Beijing's north-west garden belt: the Summer Palace, the Old Summer Palace ruins, the Fragrant Hills and the Botanical Garden, plus the Big Bell Temple, the Five-Pagoda Temple and the Zoo on the way back — the universities, seen from the gate.

Beijing's day-trip wall: four visitable sections compared, how to reach each without a tour, and the Ming Tombs and Juyongguan on the Badaling road.

Chaoyang's modern quarter: the 798 art zone and UCCA, Sanlitun's mall and nightlife, the embassy streets around Ritan Park, the Silk Street, the Liangma River, Dongyue Temple, the CCTV tower from the flyover, and a football match at Gongti.

The 2008 Olympic site on the northern axis: Bird's Nest, Water Cube, the Science, Crafts and Olympic museums, the Olympic Tower, Beiding Temple and the Olympic Forest Park.

39 dishes by shelf — start with these, the beijing table, street and breakfast, in season, old-school western and sodas, souvenirs, vegetarian and halal — each with where to get it.

Yuanxiao in Jan, aiwowo in Mar, beibingyang orange soda in Jun, copper-pot mutton hotpot in Nov — eat what the season is eating.

Choose the Great Wall section that fits your transport, passport booking, fitness and tolerance for crowds.

Decide whether to keep chasing a Palace Museum cancellation or choose another major imperial sight.

Pick the one major park or temple that genuinely fits your half-day.

Choose the Ming Tomb that matches what you want to see, and decide whether pairing it with the Great Wall is realistic.

Turn Prince Gong’s Mansion, Shichahai, the towers and Nanluoguxiang into one walk without backtracking.

Build a one-way half-day from the Temple of Heaven through Qianmen and Dashilar to Liulichang.

Decide whether you want an art afternoon at 798 or an evening around Sanlitun and the Liangma River.

Choose one north-west Beijing outing instead of treating the area as a checklist.