The Location
Beijing, also known as Peking, city and capital of China, encircled by Hebei Province, located in the northern part of the country, on the northern edge of the Huabei Pingyuan (North China Plain), approximately 110 km (approximately 70 mi) northwest of the Bo Hai gulf. Beijing, the second largest city in China after Shanghai, is the cultural, political, and intellectual center of the country, as well as a major industrial and commercial metropolis. Initially settled more than 2000 years ago, it has been the capital of China for most of the last 700 years. The climate is seasonal, with hot summers and cold winters. Temperatures can climb higher than 38℃ (higher than 100 F) in July and drop lower than -15℃(lower than 5 F) in January.
Beijing, the capital of the People's Republic of China (PRC), is not only the political and administrative center of China, but it is also China's greatest repository of monuments and treasures from the imperial era. The home of over 9.5 million people, the city extends over 6,500 square miles and 10 districts. With a history of 3,000 years, Beijing is extremely rich in historical sites and cultural relics.
Beijing is the birthplace of Chinese Civilization and one of the six ancient capital cities in China. During the last 3000 years it served as a capital for several dynasties.
Beijing, home to more than 15 million people, is the cultural, political and psychological center of the whole country. Throughout the land, people chat in Mandarin, based on the Beijing dialect and follow the orders of the Beijing based Central Government. From here the Chinese Communist Party rules over its enormous empire. The city is also the educational center of China, with many of the best universities in China. This makes it an important attraction to international students wishing to learn Mandarin. Annually, thousands of students from all over the world study Chinese in Beijing, and for good reason.
Naturally, Beijing has some of the most superb examples of Chinese architecture. No other place in China offers such a large number of old and ancient buildings as Beijing. On top of that, Beijing is one of the most convenient starting points for visiting The Great Wall.
Beijing has come a long way from the dusty communist capital of the seventies and eighties to a modern city with many high-rise buildings and shopping malls. Modern China can be seen all around Beijing. The city is always growing and evolving, new buildings are constantly being built, the subway is forever expanding and people are always on the move. Beijing is a true metropolis with every modern convenience one could hope for.
The nightlife and restaurant offerings continue to surprise new arrivals. There are numerous bars and clubs which cater for all tastes. Both locals and foreigners can be seen partying together like in no other Chinese city. The number of bars and clubs are too many to list with more being built all the time. As for restaurants, every cuisine imaginable is well represented, with numerous foreign restaurants and Chinese restaurants serving food from all regions of the world.
Beijing is an exciting, unique place, with an undercurrent of charm that should evoke a sense of curiosity and fascination in anyone.
