Beijing: Quick Guide + Photo Journal, Beijing, China

Tian'anmen Square. The Forbidden City. The Great Wall of China. The hutongs. As a city with more than 3,000 years of history, Beijing challenges its visitors with an exhaustingly long checklist of ancient architecture, cultural sites and museums. Covering this megacity in a three-day visit requires a lot of energy, but in just 72 hours we had a great sense of both the past and future of China's capital. Read on for my recommendations from our trip and an inside look at Peking!

To get a real taste of Beijing, head to the city's ancient hutongs - narrow alleyways formed by the outer walls of courtyard homes. Many of these traditional residential areas have been erased to make way for new construction, but those still standing offer the best glimpse into old Beijing. The frenetic little laneways - a maze of produce stands, tiny shops and street vendors - are like a window to the city's soul. Some have been revitalized into hip destinations to spend your yuan, with trendy designer boutiques, curious vintage stores and cozy coffeehouses.  ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).