Beijing is located in northern China, close to Tianjin Municipality and partially surrounded by Hebei Province. The city covers an area of more than 16,800 square kilometers (6,487 square miles). Almost 14 million people live in Beijing. As the capital of the People's Republic of China, Beijing is the nation's political, economic, cultural and educational center. It is also the China's most important center for international trade and communications.
Beijing has been the heart and soul of politics and society throughout its long history and consequently there is an unparalleled wealth of discovery to delight and intrigue travelers as they explore Beijing's ancient past and enjoy its exciting modern development. Beijing is at its best in late spring and autumn, particularly during the months of May, September, and October when people can enjoy bright sunshine and blue skies.
How can one city boast so many phenomenal places? Beijing's long and illustrious history started some 500,000 years ago. For more than 800 years, Beijing was a capital city - from the Yuan Dynasty to the Ming and Qing dynasties. Thirty-four emperors have lived and ruled the nation in Beijing and it has been an important trading city from its earliest days.
Although Beijing now is modern, fashionable and full of 21st Century vitality, you can experience authentic Beijing life and become acquainted with "old Beijing" by exploring its many teahouses, temple fairs, Beijing's Hutong and Courtyard and enjoy the Peking Opera.
In Beijing as nowhere else on earth you will find a great variety of gourmet Chinese restaurants offering the very best of the eight different styles of Chinese cuisine as well as western style dishes. Modern hotels abound, each offering the highest standards of service and convenience.
No description of the capital city is complete without mention of the friendly people who throng the streets. Everywhere you will encounter smiling faces and a welcome, especially from the children who love to say "Hello" All these things add up to make your visit a true cultural experience of a lifetime.
If you can choose to visit only one city in China, it definitely should be Beijing. Go Beijing sightseeing and see its attractions, not only the "Nation's Best" but the "World's Best".
The magnificent Forbidden City is the largest and the best-preserved Imperial Palace complex in the world. For five centuries, this palace functioned as the administrative center of the country as well as being the residence of emperors and empresses of Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. The solemn and respectful Tiananmen Square is the largest central city square in the world, which serves not only Beijing's symbol but also the whole of China.
The Great Wall is one of the "Eight Wonders of the World" and is enlisted in the World Heritage Directory. This immense wall was built to keep out invaders as well as to retain the inhabitants. It spans five provinces (6,700 kilometers, or 2,587 miles) from Shanhaiguan Pass in the east to Jiayuguan Pass in the west. Like a gigantic dragon, it winds up and down across deserts, grasslands and mountains and said to be the only man-made structure that can be seen from the moon.
Just outside Beijing, it is possible to climb a section of the Great Wall and enjoy a splendid panoramic view that you will remember for the rest of your life. Beijing has lots of beautiful temples that at one time served as the focus of religious life.
The Temple of Heaven is the largest group of structures in the country dedicated to rituals that pay homage to the glory of heaven. There are many other fascinating temples in Beijing worth visiting such as, the White Cloud Taoist Temple, which is one of the oldest and still the most active of Taoist temples, and the Temple of Confucians, in honor of and sacrifice to Confucius. Visiting these temples can help you get a clearer concept of ancient Chinese's religious life.