We eat mutton and carrots with rice and have a couple of beers, before leaving. Jingdi buys some Xinjiang bread from a vendor outside the restaurant to munch on as we head down the street.

Following an after-dinner stroll through Xizhimen, we catch a taxi down to Houhai, a once tranquil lake that is now one of Beijing's nightlife centers. We start with a quiet drink at the "bar with no name," before walking over to meet friends at Zoom Bar, where we sit out front taking in a view of the lake.

After an hour I head next door into the jazz bar with Jingdi where we take a window seat. It doesn't take long before the crowd is screaming for me to "Play! Play! Play!" Others are shouting "Drib! Drib! Drib!" my jazz nickname on account of being able to play Charlie Parker (Bird) songs backwards.

Reluctantly, I take to the stage and blow out Bird's "Billie's Bounce." We leave to a round of applause.

We take a 20-minute stroll over to the Drum and Bell Tower area, one of my favorite places in Beijing. Through the quiet courtyard between the towers and onto a hutong behind, we turn a corner to the right and enter a hidden bar where my friend's from Zoom Bar are now holed up. The place has the ambience of an exclusive London gentlemen's club, mixed with Beijing vibes. After a few drinks and some games of pool, Jingdi and I leave and hop in a taxi bound for Xizhimen once more.

The day ends back home, looking from my window over distant neon signs and car lights as Beijing gradually goes to sleep.

Note: I don't play the saxaphone, Derby were relegated to the first division last season and have not signed Rooney or Lampard, and as I write Great Britain are third on the Olympic medal table, but I hope this gives you some ideas of what to do in Beijing

The author is British and lives and works in Beijng