Geography
Beijing, the capital of China, is
located in the northern part of the North China Plain. It is situated at 39"26"
north latitude and 115"25"-117"30" east longitude, with an area of 16,807 square
kilometers, of which 2,738 square kilometers for the city center. In terms of
outlying geographical features, the extensive Yanshan Mountain range forms a
silvan screen to the northeast, the long, winding Taihang Mountain range to the
west. Just beyond, to the northwest, the vast Mongolian plateau begins. The
Bohai Gulf lies 113 kilometers to the east and to the south, the vast North
China Plain.
Climate
Beijing has a continental monsoon climate
commonly found in the temperate zone. In winter, cold, dry winds blow out of
Siberia and Mongolia in the northwest; in summer, warm, moist air currents from
the southeast take over. It has an annual average temperature of 11.5oC. The
coldest month in Beijing is January, with an average temperature of -9 to -4oC;
the hottest month is July, with an average of 25oC. The average annual rainfall
is 609 millimeters.
Administrative Division and
Population
Beijing is divided into 14 districts and 4 counties,
with a population of 13.82 million, mainly with Han, Hui, Manchu and Mongolian
ethnic groups.
Official Trees and Flowers
Official city trees: the Chinese scholar
tree and oriental cypress
The stately cypress symbolizes the courage
and strength of the Chinese people, their simple, and hard working nature and
their defiance in the face of aggression. The scholar tree is a symbol of good
fortune, joy and well-being.
Official city flowers: China rose and
chrysanthemum
The rose, a Chinese native, has been
cross¡¡bred many times, but it still has half of the original Chinese traits.
Known as Perpetual Spring, Monthly Red, Snow Challenger and Victorious, it grows
quickly, regenerates easily and is graceful and long blooming (May to October).
The chrysanthemum has many names and
varieties. In Beijing potted chrysanthemums may be seen year round. They flower
in summer and fall naturally but can be forced to bloom any time of year.
Food
Dishes with special flavor such as the
Peking roast duck, imperial court food, imperial official food and medicinal
food, hot pot; traditional snacks such as sausage, quick-fried tripe, soya-bean
milk, jellied bean curd, seasoned flour mush, jimmy meat and fried pasty, etc.
Brief Introduction
Beijing is the one of the birthplaces of Chinese
Civilization and one of the six ancient capital cities in China. During the last
3,000 years it served as a capital for several dynasties. Since the discovery of
a complete skull of Peking man living approximately 200,000 to 500,000 years ago
in Zhoukoudian, situated 50 kilometers to the southwest of Beijing proper,
Zhoukoudian became world-famous as the home of the Chinese ape-man.
Beijing, a municipality directly under the
Central Government, is the capital of the People's Republic of China and the
country's political, economic, cultural and transportation center as well as a
famous historic city. Beijing is the second largest city in China.
Beijing is the political center of China
where the Party's Central Committee, the State Council, ministries and
commissions under the government, and more than 140 foreign embassies are
located. It is also an international exchange center.
Being one of the biggest industrial bases in
China, Beijing's industrial production is the second largest in value among all
Chinese cities. An industrial system with iron and steel, coal, machinery,
chemical and petroleum, textiles, electronics and other industries as its
mainstays has already taken shape. Beijing's arts and crafts are famous for
their long history, great variety, and superb workmanship. The most popular ones
among them are cloisonne, ivory carving, jade ware, carved lacquer ware, snuff
bottles, silk flowers and Beijing's embroidery etc.
As the country's center of culture,
education, science and technology, Beijing has more than forty state scientific
research institutions, over thirty universities and various exhibition halls,
museums, cinemas and palestras. The National Library of China is the largest
library in Asia.
It is a hub of communications, with good
railroad and air links with all parts of China, as well as with major
international cities, thus facilitating the rapid development of tourism as an
important industry in Beijing.
Beijing is an ancient city with a long
cultural history. The four feudal dynasties -- Jin, Yuan, Ming, and Qing had all
set up their capital here. That's why it became a most concentrated place of the
country's scenic spots and historical sites, with 23 State-protected Sites of
Cultural Relics. Among them, the best known are the Forbidden City, the Summer
Palace, the Great Wall, the Temple of Heaven, Zhoukoudian Site, and the Ming
Tombs, etc. Beijing's Hutong (narrow bystreets) and Siheyuan (quadrangle) are
quite worth a visit.