[LindsayfromNYC]

25/F American hoping to take a long weekend from HK to Beijing, any recommendations on doing the city in 2+ days? It's rushed, but thoughts on where to stay or what to do (Great Wall in a day?)

Also hoping to go to Macau as well, know any good places to stay?

Always looking for travel partners, let me know if you're interested.

[Sleuth]

You can get out to the Great Wall in a day. Badaling is easy, but restored and crowded. Find the cable car and escape the crowds. We liked the "wild wall" out in Simatai, maybe 3 hours from Beijing.
Also liked the Summer Palace more than Forbidden City. Do houtongs still exist or have they all been torn down for the Olympics? If they are still there, the tour is interesting and it is an aspect of Beijing that is going away.
Tiananmen is easy to do. And then there's all sorts of markets,but you might have already had your fill of those in HK/SZ.