Beijing is the capital of the most populous country in the world, the People's Republic of China, a place with a fabled past facing a 21st century future as one of the world's great metropolises. It was also the seat of the Ming and Qing dynasty emperors until the formation of a republic in 1911. Beijing is the political, educational and cultural centre of the country and as such it is rich in historical sites and important government and cultural institutions. Beijing hosted the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.
Beijing literally means Northern Capital, a role it has played many times in China's long history. Beijing's long and illustrious history started some 400,000 years ago, when Peking Man - an ancient ancestor of Homo Sapiens - was an inhabitant of the region. Thirty-four emperors have lived in and ruled the nation from Beijing and it has been an important trading city from its earliest days. In the last 1,000 years Beijing has become the real centre of the cultural and political life of China since it was made capital in 1151, during the Jin Reign (1115-1234). It became a metropolitan e multi-cultural city under the reign of Kubilai Khan, during the Yuan Dyansty (1271-1368). The square plant that the city still holds nowadays, was laid during the Ming Dynasty(1368-1644). After the 1911 Revolution, Beijing became an even more important political city. It was from Tian'an men, that on October 1st 1949, it was proclaimed the foundation of the People' s Republic of China, with Beijing as its capital. Today the city is a mixture of ancient and modern architecture.
Together with Xian, Luoyang, Kaifeng, Nanjing and Hangzhou, Beijing is one of the six ancient cities in China. Beijing is also one of the four Chinese cities which are semi-autonomous municipalities in their own right - the other three being Shanghai, Tianjin, and Chongqing. The city covers an area of more than 16,410 square kilometers (6,336 square miles) and has a population of 14.93 million people. It is surrounded by beautiful highlands to its northwest, and the Great Northern Plain to its south. Five rivers run through the city, which connect it to the eastern Bohai Sea.
The city is well known for its flatness and regular construction. There are only three hills to be found in the city limits (in Jingshan Park to the north of the famous Forbidden City). Like the configuration of the Forbidden City, Beijing has concentric "ring roads", which are actually rectangular, that go around the metropolis.
Beijing is home to some of China's most iconic monuments: the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven are probably the two most-recognized symbols of ancient China, while the images of the Great Wall that most people recognize come from sites around the capital. Its modern architectural achievements are impressive too, despite the ugly concrete and glass canyons that are a legacy of the city's explosive growth in the last 10 years. The glittering National Grand Theater and the cutting-edge architecture of the new CCTV headquarters seem likely to become familiar trademarks of the modern capital.
Although modernization has swept away a lot of old Beijing, the city's traditional past is still there to be found in its hutongs, courtyards, teahouses and temples, and in its incomparable historic sites, among which are numerous UNESCO World Heritage locations which are all under state protection. Add any or all of these to your Beijing tour and you will leave with a feeling of special appreciation in your heart for this ancient city that has truly seen it all and tells its story with matchless grace, charm and vigor.
Beijing is known as one of the greatest cultural cities in China. Beijing Opera performances and acrobatic troupes keep those traditional entertainment forms alive, while contemporary clubs and discos thrive in the Sanlitun area and just about every corner of the city.
Beijing is an excellent place to pick up curios, browse through markets and shop in elegant malls. Beijing's ''Four Famous Representative Arts'' are cloisonné (Jingtailan), ivory carvings (Yadiao), jade objects (Yuqi) and carved lacquer wares (Qidiao). There are various types of folk arts and crafts available in Beijing, including flour or clay figurines (Mianren or Nianren), colorful kites, exquisite paper-cuts, Chinese knots and many other traditional handicrafts, which are for sale on the streets.
As the capital of China, Beijing has become the focus for all types of gourmet foods that come from all over China. Traditional Beijing cuisine such as roast duck, imperial cuisine, and hot pot are still the main items on the menu for most locals looking for a special night out. However, as more and more people arrived from other provinces to settle in the capital, other genres of cuisine such as Canton, Sichuan and international cuisine have become a part of what is available in Beijing's restaurants. Now, it is possible to find the widest possible range of excellent food ranging from simple dishes to quite exotic ones.
