If you must eat a cheeseburger in the country of Mao Zedong, I highly recommend a sandwich at the School House, near the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, north of Beijing.
The restaurant, which serves western-style food on a sunny patio, makes a burger that is big and juicy, accompanied not only by French fries, but also a great view of the Great Wall. It's a fine place to unwind after a wall walk. My lunch was about $12.
Then, for a detour from modern munchies to the Ming Dynasty (1368 to 1644), make a short stop at the cloisonne factory nearby. It is on the road back to Beijing from Mutianyu.
The small family-owned business makes vases, plates and incense burners in the same style as the royal Ming family once ordered for the Forbidden City in Beijing.
Cloisonne is an ancient metalworking technique that is combined with enamel making.
You can watch artists work with copper body and wire, enamel filling and firing, and polishing. Many items in the gift shop were in the $150-$300 range.
Next: Scrunched in Beijing's Forbidden City
