Beijing

Evening Pittsburgh evening flight, one stop. No basic economy.

Night In the air.

Morning Still flying, or clearing the airport. No sight.

Afternoon Courtyard house. Showers. One slow hutong walk.

Evening Peking duck. Siji Minfu or Da Dong.

Night Early. The palace is better in the first hour.

Morning Forbidden City at opening. Out the north gate onto Jingshan for the roof photo.

Afternoon Beihai Park, then Liulichang if Deb wants a serious shop.

Evening Hutong dinner. Noodles and dumplings. The duck was last night.

Night Courtyard. Tea.

Morning Temple of Heaven before the buses.

Afternoon Summer Palace. The long corridor. A boat only if the wind is down.

Evening Taikoo Li or Sanlitun only if the girls want clothes. One dinner, then home.

Night Coats on top of the bags. Tomorrow is the mountain.

Morning Van at 7:30. Mutianyu. Cable car up, two towers, toboggan down. Not Badaling.

Afternoon Back by 3. Side lanes off Nanluoguxiang, not the snack street.

Evening A proper Beijing dinner the host books. Not a stall.

Night Early enough for Sunday.

Morning Panjiayuan. Weekend only. Buy small. Walk away from the first price.

Afternoon Train, Beijing West to Xi'an North, 4 to 6 hours.

Evening Sofitel Legend. City wall at dusk if the legs allow.

Night Muslim Quarter. Cumin lamb, biang biang, persimmon cakes. Out by 9.