Beijing, the capital of the People's Republic of China, is the nation's political, cultural, scientific and educational heart as well as a key transportation hub. Beijing has served as the capital of the country for more than 800 years dating back to the Yuan Dynasty. The city has many places of historic interest and scenic beauty, including the Forbidden City -- the largest and best preserved ancient architectural complex in the world; the Temple of Heaven - where Ming and Qing emperors performed solemn rituals for bountiful harvests; the Summer Palace -- the emperors' magnificent garden retreat; the Ming tombs -- the stately and majestic mausoleums of 13 Ming Dynasty emperors; and the world-renowned and genuinely inspiring Badaling section of the Great Wall. Large-scale construction has brought great changes to Beijing since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949 which has added many new attractions to this mysterious old city. Beijing is located on the eastern coast of China on the Pacific Ocean, at approximately the same latitude as Philadelphia in the U.S. and Madrid in Spain, The climate is a monsoon-influenced humid continental climate, characterized by hot, humid summers due to the East Asian monsoon, and generally cold, windy, dry winters that reflect the influence of the vast Siberian anticyclone. The city is 39% flat and the other 61% is quite mountainous area.
Beijing consists in 18 districts and houses 15 million of inhabitants (in January 2005) in a total area of 16,807 square kilometers (87 square kilometers are for the urban area). The population will soon reach a total of 18 million of inhabitants, making the city one of the biggest metropolises in the world.
Beijing is bestowed with large amount of China’s imperial remnant because of its position as one of the seven capitals of the country for several dynasties spanning over 800 years. These vestiges nowadays serve as valued travel resources for the city, which have drew million of visitors worldwide yearly over the past decades. The Chinese capital is a prominent historical and cultural city, abundant in treasured historical heritage and cultural relics. Three styles of architecture predominate in the city. First, the traditional architecture of imperial Chine (best exemplified by the Tian’anmen Plaza, the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven). Next, there is what is sometimes referred to as the ‘Sino-Sov’ style, built between the 1950s and the 1970s qith structure tending to be boxy and bland. Finally there are modern architectural forms for example in the CBD.
Standing side by side with old Beijing's crimson palace complexes are the city's impressive skylines. Beijing is a fine example of the great transformation China has undergone as it burst into the 21st century. The city boasts the most modern facilities and is able to provide all the comfort and enjoyment imaginable to visitors who travel to Beijing. Traveling around Beijing, one is struck by the city's impressive skyline, the modern Olympic Village, ocean world and International Park. The green area in and around the city are also inspiring and are epitomized by the Xiangshan Hill( Fragrant Hill) Longqing Gorge. It is the exhilarating green that renders visitors' Beijing travel memory more vitality and tint.
Those historical heritages and the breathtaking natural scenery are valued resource to guarantee visitors exceptional Beijing travel experiences. Beijing's travel industry has forged forward after China's opening in 1978 and the city now is one of the most popular tourist destinations around the world. Beijing is the host of the 2008 Summer Olympics and people from all around the world are more than welcome to visit Beijing for the grand celebration.
According to the National Geographic, Beijing is “a city in the midst of reinventing itself and preparing to host the 2008 Summer Olympics, it is a place of frenzied construction. Next housing, new roads and new sports venues seem to spring up overnight. At the same time, the city remains an epicenter of tradition with the treasures of nearly 2000 years as the imperial capital still on view – in the famed Forbidden City and in the city’s lush pavilions and gardens…”