whenever i have guests visiting beijing, i recommend they attend an event organized by the china culture center because
(1) they will be able to get some instruction by a chinese whose english has already been tested by expats in beijing,
(2) they will meet some expats who are living in china and thus get an inetersting perspective from them,
(3) see some special side of beijing that they would not get from a normal tour guide service, such as the royal canal boat cruise or a dumpling making class, and
(4) be in safe hands while I am busy with work thus relieving me from the anxiety of worrying that something bad has happened to them.
i suggest you also consider this when your out of town guests come.
the ccc people are very kind and very experienced.
you can not go wrong with them