The Rough Guide to Beijing is the ultimate insider's guide to China's fascinating capital. With the extravagant 2008 Olympics having served as its coming out party, the city has matured; as well as fantastic historic sites that testify to its thousands of years at the heart of the Chinese empire, the city now offers world beating hotels, super-fashionable restaurants and the coolest clubs.

All the major and off beat sights are covered, from the avant garde architectural projects such as the new CCTV Tower, to hip bar district Nanluogu Xiang, and the achingly cool arts districts of 798 and Caochangdi.

Brushing aside the hype, the guide also reveals the best places to try every kind of cuisine, including, of course, Beijing duck, and the best places to stay, from charming youth hostels tucked down alleyways and courtyard boutique hotels to the most luxurious business behemoths.

When the pace of the city gets too frenetic, there's all you need to know for great daytrips, from the magnificent temples of Chengde to the grandest and most secluded stretches of the Great Wall.Easy to read maps are provided throughout the guide, plus there's a handy colour subway map, and the pinyin and Chinese characters are given for all destinations.