Beijing is the capital of the People's Republic of China, not only the political center of the country, but also the cultural, scientific, educational center and transportation hub. Beijing, as the capital of China, has a history of over 800 years. Beijing has many famous historical sites and beautiful scenery, including the world's largest and best preserved ancient architectural complex, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven where Ming and Qing emperors held grand ceremonies to pray for a bountiful harvest, the Summer Palace, the majestic Ming Tombs, and the world-famous and awe inspiring Badaling Great Wall. After the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, large-scale construction brought tremendous changes to Beijing, adding more and more new attractions to this mysterious old city. Beijing also has its own characteristics; There are quadrangle courtyards, hutongs, tricycles, boiled lamb, handicrafts, roasted duck, and Peking Opera.

essential information

• Chinese name: Beijing

• Location: Northern China

• Dialing code: （+86）010

• Postal Code: one hundred thousand

Beijing Municipal Government website: http://www.ebeijing.gov.cn/

Major attractions in Beijing: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Badaling/Mutianyu Great Wall, Thirteen Tombs, etc.

Administrative distribution

Beijing is located on the Pacific coast of China's west coast, at the northern end of the North China Plain. 39% of the city is flat, while the remaining 61% is mountainous. Beijing is surrounded by the Yanshan Mountains to the west, north, and east, and the Yongding River alluvial plain to the southeast. Beijing faces the Bohai Sea, also known as the Beijing Bay.

Beijing has a total of 14 administrative districts and 2 counties, including Dongcheng District, Xicheng District, Chaoyang District, Haidian District, Chaoyang District, Fengtai District, Shijingshan District, Tongzhou District, Shunyi District, Changping District, Daxing District, Mentougou District, Fangshan District, Pinggu District, Huairou District, Miyun County, and Yangqing County. The downtown area includes Dongcheng District, Xicheng District, Xuanwu District, Chaoyang District, Haidian District, Fengtai District, etc. The Second Ring Road connects the old city walls, while the Sixth Ring Road connects the satellite cities in the surrounding suburbs. With the expansion of urban scale, Chaoyang District, Haidian District, Fengtai District, and Shijingshan District are also considered as municipal districts.

The Xicheng and Dongcheng districts of Beijing are located within the Second Ring Road and are traditional inner city areas, as well as the busiest areas in Beijing. Xicheng District is the busiest area in Beijing, with famous attractions along the central axis such as the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Bell Tower, and Temple of Heaven located in Dongcheng District. Xicheng District is the location of leaders of the Party and state organs, as well as places of economic activities such as finance and commerce. Haidian District is located in the northwest of the city center. There are many historical sites and beautiful royal gardens. There are more than 100 private gardens, including the famous Summer Palace, the Summer Palace, and the Holy Land Fragrant Hill for appreciating red leaves in autumn. It is the center of science, culture and education in Beijing. Peking University, Tsinghua University, Renmin University of China and other famous universities are located here. The tourism resources in the two counties are also very abundant. Yanqing County is the northwest gateway of the capital city, and the world-famous Badaling Great Wall is located within the county. Huairou County has famous attractions such as Hongluo Temple and Mutianyu Great Wall.

history

The earliest human settlement in Beijing was the Longgu Mountain Cave near Zhoukoudian Village in Fangshan District, where Peking Man lived.

The history of Beijing can be traced back thousands of years, but it first gained attention in Chinese history after the establishment of Yanjing as the capital of Yan State. Yan was one of the major kingdoms during the Warring States period, dating back approximately 2000 years. After the fall of Yan State, Beijing was a major prefecture and county in northern China during the Later Han Dynasty (206-220 BC), Jin Dynasty (265-420 AD), and Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). The Han Dynasty and

In 936, the Later Jin Dynasty (936-947) in northern China ceded most of its northern border areas, including modern Beijing, to the Khitan Liao Dynasty. In 938, the Liao Dynasty established a provisional capital in present-day Beijing, called Nanjing ("Southern Capital"). In preparation for conquering all of China, Kublai Khan, the founder of the Yuan Dynasty (Mongolia), designated this place as his capital and called it Dadu. one thousand three hundred and sixty-eight

After the fall of the Yuan Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty rebuilt this city and established Shuntian Prefecture in the surrounding areas. In 1403, the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Yongle, relocated the capital of the Ming Dynasty from Beiping to Nanjing. During the Ming Dynasty, Beijing took on its current form.

In 1644, Li Zicheng led a peasant uprising against the Ming government, which lasted for 40 days. After Li Zicheng took control of Beijing, the Manchu people captured it. The Manchu people overthrew the Ming Dynasty and established the Qing Dynasty. Throughout the Qing Dynasty, Beijing remained the capital of China. The 1911 Xinhai Revolution overthrew the Qing Dynasty, but the capital of the newly established Republic of China remained in Beijing, as former Qing general Yuan Shikai seized control of the new government from revolutionaries in the south. Yuan Shikai and his successors in the Beiyang Army ruled the Republic in Beijing until 1928

If you want to learn more about the history of Beijing, please visit Beijing History

climate

The climate in Beijing belongs to a continental climate, with cold and dry winters due to the southward movement of Siberian air currents through the Mongolian Plateau. Summer is hot, and due to the warm and humid climate, the southeast monsoon brings most of the annual precipitation to Beijing. Spring and autumn are long, with January being the coldest and July being the hottest. Winter usually begins at the end of October. In summer, from June to August, it is humid and rainy, with precipitation accounting for about 80% of the annual average.

• Best travel time

Spring and autumn are the best time to visit Beijing, especially April, May, September, and October.

♦  Spring (March to May): The temperature in spring is suitable, it is the season of blooming flowers, and it is the best time for outdoor activities. But spring in Beijing is slightly dry and windy, and sometimes there are even sandstorms in April.

♦  Autumn (September to October) is the best season to visit Beijing. Although autumn in Beijing is quite short, the temperature is suitable and there is less rainfall and wind compared to other seasons. Tourists can enjoy the red leaves and yellow ginkgo trees at Xiangshan and Diaoyutai, which are the best seasons for photography.

♦  Winter (November to February of the following year): Beijing's winter is very cold. If you are lucky enough, you can see the beautiful scenery covered in white snow. Activities such as skiing and snowball fights are readily available. Generally speaking, winter is the off-season for tourism in Beijing. Except for the Spring Festival, tourists can enjoy hotel and travel discounts during this period. During the Spring Festival, tourism prices are relatively high, but there are abundant temple fairs, making it the best time to experience the festive atmosphere.

• Dressing advice ♦ Spring (March May): Moderate temperature, but strong sandstorms, a thin coat is sufficient. Wear a mask during sandstorm weather. ♦  Summer (June August):

The temperature in summer is generally above 30 degrees Celsius, with strong sunlight. It is necessary to pay attention to sun protection, such as sunglasses, hats, umbrellas, etc.

♦  Autumn (September to October): The wind is strong and the temperature difference is large, so it is necessary to wear a thick coat and mask

♦  Winter (November February): The lowest temperature in winter is minus 5-10 degrees Celsius, and a jacket is necessary. Girls should wear long boots. In addition, lipstick and lotion should be prepared when it is dry in winter in northern China.

Travel to Beijing

As one of the seven ancient capitals of China, there are numerous historical heritages in various regions. Beijing has 6 World Heritage sites, making it the city with the most World Heritage sites in the world. Beijing has a wide variety of landscape types, including famous historical sites, cultural experiences, natural scenery, art, etc. Almost every district and county has a highlight attraction. The area within the Third Ring Road of Beijing belongs to the old city district and has the most cultural and historical landscapes.

Beijing has abundant tourism resources, with over 200 tourist attractions open to visitors, including the world's largest royal palace - the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Beihai Royal Garden, Royal Summer Palace Garden, as well as famous attractions such as the Badaling Great Wall, Mutianyu Great Wall, and the world's largest quadrangle courtyard - the Prince Gong's Mansion.

The cultural life in Beijing is quite rich. There are various types of performances and international exhibitions. The local folk customs are also quite interesting, including Beijing snacks, Peking Opera, cross-talk, stage performances, lively rap songs, cloisonn é, ivory carving, flower carving, etc. Beijing Opera is known as the "national treasure" of China, with a history of over 200 years. The magnificent costumes, beautiful singing style, stunning masks, and makeup have left a deep impression on tourists from all over the world. The famous National Centre for the Performing Arts, Chang'an Grand Theatre, Huguang Theatre, Lao She Teahouse, China Peking Opera Theatre, Mei Lanfang Grand Theatre, and Poly Grand Theatre often perform traditional Peking Opera. Houhai, Sanlitun Bar Street, and Nanluogu Lane are great places to enjoy nightlife.