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) and has a population
of 13.82 million people. 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.
As the capital of the
People's Republic of China, Beijing
is the nation's political,
economic, cultural and educational center as well as being
the China's most important center for international trade
and communications. It 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.
How can one city boast so many phenomenal
places? Beijing's long and illustrious history started some
500,000 years ago. It is here that the ancestors of modern
Homo sapiens, Peking men, lived in caves. Records show that
Beijing has been an inhabited city for more than three
thousand years and has endured invasions by war-lords and
foreign powers, devastating fires, the rise and fall of
powerful imperial dynasties and has emerged each time as a
strong and vibrant city. 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. 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.
With the biggest central
square in the world - Tian'anmen Square, the Forbidden City
that is the largest and best-preserved imperial palace
complex, a superbly preserved section of the Great Wall, as
well as the largest sacrificial complex in the world -
the Temple of Heaven, Beijing attracts both domestic and
foreign visitors who all come wonder at its century-old
history and unique cultural relics.
Dwelling
too much on the historical past of Beijing may give the
false impression that it is it little more than an ancient
city in style but this is definitely not so! Strolling
around Beijing, you'll find it has much in common with any
other great metropolis elsewhere in today's world. There
are towering skyscrapers; busy shopping malls and an
endless stream of traffic that makes the city the much the
same as others. However, although you will find
multinational chains with their own brands on offer,
nowhere else on earth will you find such a 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.
After a day's exploration of the
city, nighttime can hold other surprises for you. These can
vary from traditional performances such as the Beijing
Opera, acrobatics and martial arts to modern ones including
concerts, ballroom dancing, pubs and clubs. Each and every
one has its enchantment for the tourist. No description of
our 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.
No words can adequately express all
the charm of Beijing, therefore the only way to appreciate
it fully is to experience for yourself. In 2008 Beijing
will host the Olympic
Games. The city will
take this opportunity to show the world something so
special that everyone is sure to be awestruck by Beijing's
latest accomplishments combined with its ancient history.
content from the Travel China Guide