Describe a place to get a great cup of coffee. What's cool about it?

I am not much of a coffee fan, I enjoy tea more. And I feel very fortunate to be in China, with such a strong tea culture. Beijing has a lot of nice tea houses – one of my favourites is across from Confucius Temple, close to Lama Temple. The teahouse and the whole setting are very peaceful and relaxing. Try the pu-ju tea, a mix of pu er healthy tea and chrysanthemum fragrant tea.

Describe a time of day, a spot to sit, and a view that will break your heart.

I am being biased here but I’d have to say 34th floor of our hotel, Westin Beijing Chaoyang! The view will take your breath away, as you have an almost 360 degree view of the city. The lush green embassy area, the spaghetti intersections crossing, the hustle and bustle of CBD below. On a clear day you can even see the mountains in the West. Best time for the view is dusk, when the warm glow colours the city.

One neighbourhood walk which gets people into the flow of your place.

Start at Houhai and people-watch as Beijing residents do their morning exercise and taichi. Stroll around Drum and Bell Towers, and grab a coffee or tea in one of the small coffee shops, ideally with a rooftop. Houhai is most interesting in the evening, when China’s cool, hip youths come out for drinks at Lotus Lane. Then continue to famous shopping street Wangfujing, where you can buy anything from street food to tailored suits.

Describe a place that holds a strong memory for you when you first arrived.

When my wife and son arrived and we moved into our new home in Beijing. As I had been traveling to and from Beijing throughout the previous months, I chose the apartment without the family seeing it as we were short of time. Fortunately, when they arrived, they too fell in love with it.

An unforgettable excursion.

I was recently taken on a tour of the Olympic Green, not far from our hotel. It’s impressive. The structures are totally changing the way Beijing looks, and I am glad that Beijing will now have more signature buildings, such as Bird’s Nest, the Water Cube, “The Egg” opera house.

A restaurant dripping with atmosphere.

Beijing is a dining haven. There is something for every pocket, and for every taste. My family and I enjoy a weekend brunch at The Orchard, where kids can play in the garden and my wife and I can have fresh salads and a glass of wine. If you don’t have time to get away from the city, try the Hakka Restaurant, very authentic minority-style restaurant. Excellent service- even fish dishes come within 10 minutes of ordering!

One of your favourite shops. Why?

While Beijing has a range of high-end shopping malls and branded stores, I still enjoy Liulichang Antiques Street, where you can find Chinese artsy deco and exquisite gifts.

A bar with attitude, and a drink to order there.

Where do I start? Sanlitun Bar Street has plenty of bars, but I really like to go to Face Bar, close to Workers’ Stadium. It’s very Oriental, with nice ambience and outdoor area too.

Where would you send someone to see a good gig or live show?

CJW at The Place. It has some of Beijing’s best entertainers and world class musicians.

One thing you'd change about the destination if you could.

Beijing is very flat! It could do with a more picturesque profile. But then again, the flatness makes it an ideal city for bikes.

Author's Note: Daniel Aylmer is the general manager of Westin Beijing Chaoyang, the newest addition to Beijing’s five star hotel scene. While he’s an “old China hand”, having lived in China since 2000, he’s a Beijing 'newbie', living in Beijing for only a few months. A British national, Daniel has lived in Asia for over 12 years and enjoys Beijing because of the fun and laid-back feel of the city.