Beijing

Beijing, previously called Peking, is the capital city of China. It is one of the most important cities in the world. It is a global city with many people, culture, politics, finance, education, research, tourism, and technology.

Beijing is very old, with a history over three thousand years long. It is famous for its beautiful palaces, temples, and the Great Wall. Some places, like the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven, attract many visitors each year.

The city is a major center for education and science. It has top universities such as Tsinghua University and Peking University. Beijing is a busy place with many international businesses, embassies, and important organizations. The city has modern skyscrapers as well as traditional neighborhoods called hutongs, showing both old and new sides of China.

Etymology

Main article: Names of Beijing

Beijing has had many names for over 3,000 years. The name "Beijing" means "Northern Capital." It comes from the Chinese words for "north" (北) and "capital" (京). This name was given in 1403 during the Ming dynasty to tell it apart from Nanjing, which means "Southern Capital."

The English spelling "Beijing" started in the 1980s. Before that, the city was often called "Peking." You can still see this old name at places like Peking University and Beijing Capital International Airport.

The Chinese character for Beijing used on license plates is 京, and its short form in Latin letters is "BJ."

History

Main article: History of Beijing

The history of Beijing is very long. Early humans lived near Beijing, as shown by fossils found close to the village of Zhoukoudian. These fossils are from a type of early human called Peking Man and are more than 200,000 years old.

Beijing has been an important city for many empires and dynasties. It became the capital of China several times. During the Ming Dynasty, big buildings like the Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven were built. Later, during the Qing Dynasty, lovely gardens such as the Summer Palace were made.

In recent times, Beijing was the capital when the People’s Republic of China was founded in 1949. The city has grown a lot, becoming a major place for business, culture, and big events like the 2008 Summer Olympics and the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Cityscape

Beijing has many different types of buildings that show its long history and modern growth. You can see very old buildings like the Forbidden City and Tian'anmen, which are examples of traditional Chinese architecture. There are also older buildings from the 1950s and 1970s, and brand-new modern buildings, especially in areas like the Beijing CBD.

Some of Beijing's most famous modern buildings include the CCTV Headquarters, the Beijing National Stadium, and the National Center for the Performing Arts. Traditional homes in Beijing, known as siheyuans, are courtyards surrounded by buildings, often linked by narrow streets called hutongs. Though many of these old neighborhoods are changing, they still give a glimpse into Beijing's past.

See also: List of tallest buildings in Beijing and Chinese architecture

Geography

Main article: Geography of Beijing

Beijing is located at the northern edge of the North China Plain. Mountains to the north, northwest, and west protect the city. The northwestern part of Beijing, especially Yanqing District and Huairou District, has the Jundu Mountains. The western part is framed by the Western Hills. The Great Wall of China runs across northern Beijing. Mount Dongling, in the Western Hills, is the highest point in Beijing.

Major rivers in Beijing, like the Chaobai, Yongding, and Juma, are part of the Hai River system. The Miyun Reservoir is the largest reservoir in Beijing. The urban area of Beijing lies on flat land, with heights between 40 and 60 metres. The city has ring roads that spread out from the center. Tian'anmen and Tian'anmen Square are in the center of Beijing, south of the Forbidden City. To the west of Tian'anmen is Zhongnanhai, where China's leaders live. Chang'an Avenue runs between Tiananmen and the Square, forming the main east–west axis.

Government

Main article: Politics of Beijing

Beijing's government is led by the Municipal Committee of the Chinese Communist Party. The Beijing CCP Secretary is the top leader and is part of an important group called the Politburo. The city also has a mayor and many offices that take care of laws, safety, and other city needs. As China's capital, Beijing holds important national government offices, such as the National People's Congress.

Beijing is divided into 16 urban districts. These districts are split into smaller areas, like towns and subdistricts. Some well-known towns outside the main city are Changping, Huairou, Miyun, and Tongzhou. The city's judicial system has several courts and offices to handle legal matters.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Beijing

Beijing's economy is very strong. In 2025, the city's total wealth was about $748 billion. This is a big part of China's overall economy. Beijing also had the highest income per person in China.

Beijing is an important city for big businesses and money. It has many headquarters of large companies and many very wealthy people. The city is a major center for finance and business and ranks high in competitions around the world.

The city's economy is mostly based on services like professional work, shopping, technology, and real estate. Industry, such as making things, still plays a role but is smaller than before. Around Beijing, there are special areas focused on technology, finance, business, and other industries, helping the city grow.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Beijing

Beijing is a very large city with over 21 million people living within its official city limits. It is the most crowded capital city in the world and the second-largest city in China after Shanghai. Most people in Beijing are Han Chinese, but there are also many people from other ethnic groups living there.

Many people move to Beijing each year for jobs and opportunities. The city has rules to control how many people can live there, to help with traffic, pollution, and making sure there are enough schools and hospitals. Some people are moved to nearby areas to help spread out the population.

Education and research

Main articles: Education in Beijing, Education in China, and Higher education in China

See also: Rankings of universities in China, List of universities in China, and Double First Class University Plan

Beijing is a top place for science and technology. It has been the best city in the world for scientific research since 2016, using the Nature Index. Beijing’s schools and research groups do a lot of important work in areas like chemistry, physical sciences, and health science.

The city has more than 90 public colleges and universities. Some of the best schools in Asia are there, such as Peking University and Tsinghua University. Beijing is also where many key research groups are located, like the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Culture

People from Beijing speak the Beijing dialect, a type of Mandarin Chinese. This dialect helped shape the standard language in mainland China and Taiwan. In rural areas, people speak dialects similar to those in nearby Hebei province.

Young people in Beijing enjoy a busy nightlife. Popular places include Houhai, Sanlitun, and Wudaokou.

Art

Beijing opera is a traditional Chinese theater. It includes singing, speaking, and dancing. The city is also known for crafts like cloisonné, a detailed metalwork, and lacquerware, which has intricate carved designs.

In 2012, Beijing was named a City of Design by UNESCO.

Cuisine

Beijing cuisine has a long history of cooking for emperors and is influenced by nearby regions. It mixes northern Chinese foods with special cooking methods. Popular dishes include Peking duck, a crispy duck, and Fuling jiabing, a flat pancake with a special filling. Teahouses are common, and instant-boiled mutton is often served in a hot pot.

Places of interest

Beijing is full of history and famous places. The Forbidden City holds the Palace Museum with many imperial artworks. Nearby are beautiful parks like Beihai and Jingshan. Important buildings near Tiananmen Square include the Great Hall of the People and the National Museum of China.

The Temple of Heaven is where emperors prayed for good harvests. Other temples include the Temple of Earth, Temple of the Sun, and Temple of the Moon. Beijing has many parks and the Beijing Zoo, home to giant pandas.

The city has many museums, including the Palace Museum and the National Museum of China. Outside the city are the Thirteen Tombs of the Ming dynasty and parts of the Great Wall of China. Theme parks like Universal Studios Beijing and Happy Valley Beijing are fun to visit.

Intangible cultural heritage

Beijing has many cultural traditions, including music, dance, opera, art, and crafts. The city’s people and government work to keep these traditions alive.

Religion

Beijing has a long history with many religions, including folk religion, Taoism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Islam, and Christianity. The city has many temples, mosques, and churches that are important to its people.

Media

Beijing has many television and radio stations. Beijing Television and China Central Television are big networks. Several radio stations broadcast in English. The city has many newspapers, including the Beijing Evening News, Beijing Daily, and The Beijing News, as well as English-language papers like Beijing Weekend and Beijing Today.

Beijing has a lively music scene with many rock bands and artists.

Sports

See also: Football in Beijing

Beijing has hosted many important sports events. The most famous were the 2008 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games and the 2022 Winter Olympics and the Paralympics. The city has also hosted other big games like the 2001 Summer Universiade and the 1990 Asian Games. It has also held many single-sport competitions such as the Beijing Marathon and the China Open of Tennis.

Beijing is home to several major sports venues, including the MasterCard Center and the Olympic Green. It also has many professional sports teams in different leagues.

Transportation

Main article: Transport in Beijing

Beijing is a major transportation hub in North China. It has many roads, railways, and airports that connect it to other parts of China and the world. The city has six ring roads and many expressways, making it easy to travel by car or bus.

Beijing has many railway stations and several high-speed rail lines. These connect the city to places like Shanghai (Jinghu Line), Guangzhou (Jingguang Line), and Harbin (Jingha Line). The city also has two large airports: Beijing Capital International Airport and Beijing Daxing International Airport. These airports serve many passengers each year and connect Beijing to many places around the world.

The city has an extensive public transportation system. This includes a subway with many lines and stations, bus services, and taxis. Bicycles are still commonly used for short trips, and there are many bike lanes throughout the city.

Defence and aerospace

Beijing is an important city for China's military and space work. The city has key military leaders and schools.

Beijing is also where the China National Space Administration is located. This group manages China's space program and the centers that watch over space missions with people and without people.

Ecology

Beijing has many different kinds of plants and animals. In the west and north, there are forests. Other parts of the city have plains, wetlands, and river valleys. Many birds live in Beijing, including some that travel from faraway places. The city has special animals like the Chinese giant salamander and Père David’s deer. These animals are protected in special parks.

Beijing has nature reserves with wildlife such as wolves, foxes, and deer. The city works hard to protect its plants and animals. Many different species of birds visit every year. The city’s official flowers are the Chinese rose and chrysanthemum. Its trees are the Chinese arborvitae and the pagoda tree.

International relations

Beijing is an important city for international diplomacy. It is home to the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, which helps improve life in Asia. The Silk Road Fund is an investment fund of the Chinese government. Beijing also hosts the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

Twin towns and sister cities

Beijing is twinned with many cities around the world, including:

• Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
• Ankara, Turkey
• Astana, Kazakhstan
• Athens, Greece
• Bangkok, Thailand
• Berlin, Germany
• Brussels, Belgium
• Bucharest, Romania
• Budapest, Hungary
• Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Cairo, Egypt
• Canberra, Australia
• Cologne, Germany
• Copenhagen, Denmark
• Delhi, India
• Doha, Qatar
• Dublin, Ireland
• Hanoi, Vietnam
• Havana, Cuba
• Helsinki, Finland
• Île-de-France, France
• Islamabad, Pakistan
• Jakarta, Indonesia
• Johannesburg, South Africa
• Kyiv, Ukraine
• Lima, Peru
• London, England, United Kingdom
• Manila, Philippines
• Minsk, Belarus
• Mexico City, Mexico
• Moscow, Russia
• New York City, United States
• Ottawa, Canada
• Phnom Penh, Cambodia
• Riga, Latvia
• Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• San José, Costa Rica
• Santiago, Chile
• Seoul, South Korea
• Tallinn, Estonia
• Tehran, Iran
• Tel Aviv, Israel
• Tirana, Albania
• Tokyo, Japan
• Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
• Vientiane, Laos
• Washington D.C., United States
• Wellington, New Zealand

Foreign embassies and consulates

Beijing hosts many foreign embassies. As of 2020, there were 173 embassies, one consulate, and three representatives in the city, excluding the trade offices of Hong Kong and Macau.

Representative offices and delegations

Beijing also has representative offices and delegations from:

• Haiti (Representative Office)
• Faroe Islands (Representative Office)
• European Union (Delegation of the European Union to China)