West Fourth Ring Road-西四环

Surprisingly good pizza in a drab, far west end locale. 

Part of a nationwide chain, Huijia Kindergarten has 17 campuses and early childhood centers around Beijing. The curriculum combines advanced international educational ideas, modern teaching methods and Chinese traditional culture and focuses on nurturing children to become international citizens. The coursework, which emphasizes basic concepts, skills, knowledge, attitudes and behaviors, is designed to help students become “lifelong learners” and take responsibility for themselves, their studies others.Age range: 1.5-6 years old.

Offers optometry and lens-fitting services. Consultation fee RMB 5-15. Glasses start at RMB 158 for frames and RMB 40 for lenses.

The Four Points Sheraton's Italian eatery serves pizza (including a special Beijing duck and lamb varieties), pasta (i.e. tortellini with Sichuan peppercorns) and other Italian specialties (with a Chinese twist) in a cozy atmosphere. Watch it all being prepared in their open kitchen (featuring Chef de Cuisine Andrew Ahn) and enjoy their wide range of Italian wines and signature cocktails. Open daily for dinner.

The Four Points Sheraton's Yong Yi serves traditional Chinese food with an emphasis on Cantonese and Sichuan favorites. Seven private dining rooms, some with garden and/or waterfall views. Dim sum buffet costs RMB 138 (breakfast), 173 (lunch), 242 (dinner).

This huge bookstore in Beijing's far west stocks a large range of English-language titles.

The place to go for specialist outdoor clothing and gear.

Southwest of the city center, Shangfang Mountain has long attracted Buddhists seeking to escape the world. It is dotted with shrines, temples, tombs and monasteries, though only a third of the latter remain open.

Hiking around and up the 800-meter mountain gives a chance to discover its waterfalls and varied plant and animal life - keep an eye out for monkeys! Located on the side of Shangfang Mountain, the Yunshui Caves are home to a mix of neon-lit Buddhas and Buddhist scenes set amongst a hundred millennia's worth of geological formations.

Cantonese chain that specializes in just about everything including dim sum. The quality is only so-so and the place is loud, but who can resist the pull of 24/7 neon? Be wary of the tacky auctions they hold on a nightly basis. Readers voted it "Best Cantonese" and "Outstanding Dim Sum" in the Beijinger's 2011 Restaurant Awards.