One day three ways: Beijing

PENNY-PINCH

It isn't hard to do Beijing on a budget. Grab some steamed dumplings at a street eatery ($5) and head off to Tiananmen Square, followed by a self-guided audio tour of the Forbidden City (www.dpm.org.cn; $17). Lunch on spicy Sichuan fare at Chuan Jing Ban Canting (Dong Zongbu Hutong; $20) before spending your afternoon exploring the surrounding Back Lakes district, a remnant of imperial-era alleys and courtyard houses with street-market shopping. Finish with a sunset drink on the rooftop Drum and Bell bar (41 Zhonglouwan Hutong; $8) before dinner at Private Kitchen No.44 (70 Deshengmen Nei Dajie; $18). Stay at Michael's House Beijing (michaels-houses.com; $52), a friendly, courtyard-style B&B.

TOTAL: $120

EASY DOES IT

Start with a vegetarian breakfast at Vineyard Cafe (vineyardcafe.cn; $14) near the 300-year-old Yonghe Temple ($4), with its stunning, Tibetan-influenced architecture. Explore local life and imperial landscapes at Beihai Park ($2) and have a lavish court lunch to match the Qing dynasty decor at Fangshan Restaurant (fangshanfanzhuang.com.cn; $50). Indulge in a taxi ($40 return) to the sprawling Summer Palace (summerpalace-china.com; $5) for pavilions and landscaped lakes. Have dinner at Duck de Chine (www.elite-concepts.com; $67), which specialises in contemporary duck dishes, and a nightcap at Philippe Starck-designed LAN Club (lanclub.cc; $15). Rest your head at opulent Sofitel Wanda Beijing (sofitel.com; $194).

TOTAL: $391

SPLASH OUT

Slide into your limo (various; $170 a day) for a tour of Beijing's architectural wonders, from the Temple of Heaven (www.tiantanpark.com; $6) and Forbidden City (www.dpm.org.cn; $17) to the bird's nest National Stadium (bopac.gov.cn; $8), or go on the ultimate shopping spree to avant-garde arts area 798 Electronics Factory (798space.com). Lunch with local celebs at Tiandi Yijia ($70), where beautiful decor meets Beijing duck. Then head out to the Ming tombs and Great Wall at Badaling, before retiring like an emperor to the Qing dynasty pavilions of Aman at Summer Palace (amanresorts.com; $778), where a French-influenced Japanese meal at Naoki ($135) is a stunning experience.

TOTAL: $1184