the.new.and.old.beijing.新.旧.交.差.的.北.京.

you chose beijing instead of shanghai because of these two icons that you wanted to see in person ever since the 2008 olympic.

set aside these two new olympic architectures, there is another one - the Beijing national center for the performing arts (国家大剧院 ) you have to let go because 3 full days in beijing apparently is too short, not enough to rekindle friendship, catch up with good old friends and sightseeing. Let alone shopping is not even in your agenda.
here are some quick overviews of beijing, the new icons - olympic stadium - bird nest(鸟巢), olympic swimming pool（水立方), the old icons - the summer palace (颐和园) and the not too touristic china great wall at mutianyu (慕田峪长城).
at the time of writing, you are about to conclude another tale of a city which you have relook using the dutch's eyes and in search of the rich heritage of baba and nyonya in a city called melaka (马六甲). tomorrow you are on a journey again, this time on a home journey, to your birth place.

olympic stadium - bird nest(鸟巢) - glowing like a gigantic precious jewel

olympic swimming pool - water cube（水立方) - would be even more spectacular if illuminated in different colors

the summer palace (颐和园) - a huge palace that need a whole day to explore in leisure, you were there till sunset

mutianyu great wall (慕田峪长城) - there are several great wall open for tourists and this is definitely the off the beaten track one...