Beijing is the capital of the People's Republic of China, the most populous country in the world. With a population of 21,500,000 people, it is the nation's second-largest city after Shanghai. It was also the seat of the Ming and Qing dynasty emperors until the establishment of the Republic of China in 1911. Beijing is the political, educational and cultural centre of the country and as such it is rich in historical sites and important government and cultural institutions.
The city is marked by its flatness and arid climate. There are only three hills to be found in the city limits (in Jingshan Park to the north of Forbidden City) and mountains surround the capital on three sides. Like the configuration of the Forbidden City, Beijing has concentric "ring roads", which are actually rectangular, that go around the metropolis and serve as good reference points as one attempts to move about the city. Beyond the ring roads are the most-visited portions of the Great Wall of China, which witnesses visitors the world over and Beijing serves as a good headquarters for those who wish to gaze upon one of mankind's more memorable and lasting structures.
Beijing was host to the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, and will also host the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, the first only city to host both these events.
Beijing is the best destination to admire the Great Wall of China. The most famous sections near Beijing are located in its suburban areas, including the well-preserved Badaling and Mutianyu, the renovated Juyongguan, Jinshanling, and Simatai, as well as the wild Jiankou and Gubeikou. These sections are just a 1-2 hour' drive from downtown Beijing.
Forbidden City, also known as the Palace Museum, and Gu Gong in Chinese, lies at the city center of Beijing, and once served as the imperial palace for 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368 - 1911). It was first built throughout 14 years during the reign of Emperor Chengzu in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It was forbidden to enter without special permission of the emperor. Hence
The Temple of Heaven Park, Tiantan in Chinese, is located in the Dongcheng District, Beijing. It is the largest and most representative existing masterpiece among China's ancient sacrificial buildings. Originally, the Temple of Heaven was the place where emperors of the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644) and Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911) held the Heaven Worship Ceremony.Beijing
Great Wall
Forbidden City
Temple of Heaven
Useful information
In China the power sockets are of type A and I. The standard voltage is 220 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.
Citizens of all nations must have a valid visa to enter Beijing. One can consult the Chinese Embassy in their home country to learn about the visa requirements. Meanwhile, starting May 1 China has removed visa charges for Nepalese tourists.
Beijing offers a well-developed and efficient public transportation system, making it easy for tourists to travel around. The subway system, including major tourist lines and the Airport Express, is the best way to get around the city, complemented by buses for other areas. Taxis and ride-hailing services like Didi are also convenient. Likewise, it is bike-friendly with dedicated lanes, and bike-sharing services like Mobike and Ofo allow easy rentals via mobile apps.
The official dialect of China is Mandarin, also call "Putonghua". More than 70% of the Chinese population speaks Mandarin, but there are also several other major dialects in use in China: Yue (Cantonese), Xiang (Hunanese), Min dialect, Gan dialect, Wu dialect, and Kejia or Hakka dialect.
