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| Friday,November 30,2007 Posted: 15:37 BJT(0737 GMT) nnn |
Beijing, the capital of the People’s Republic of China, is the nation’s political and cultural center.
Beijing is situated at 40 degrees north latitude and 116 degrees east longitude. It is 43 metres above sea level and 183 km from the sea. Beijing covers and area of 16,800 sq. km, 38% of which is flat land and 62% mountains. Beijing has a continental climate. Annual rainfall averages nearly 700 mm, most of which comes in July and August. Winter is dry and cold and has little snow. The frost-free period is 185 days. The best time to visit Beijing is May, September and October, when people enjoy bright sunny sky.
Beijing has a population of 10.855 million, about million live in the city and the rest on the outskirts. It is divided into 12 districts and 6 counties.
The long history has left numerous famous historical sites. The Great Wall, a huge project begun more than 2,000 years ago, meanders through mountains and valleys for hundreds of km in the region of Beijing.
The forbidden City, the largest ancient architectural complex extant today, is splendid crystallization of ancient Chinese architectural art. Walking in the city, one may find many places worth a second visit. These include mansions, gardens, gate towers, temples, former residences of celebrities and places where many historical events took place. Hundreds of thousand of people, domestic and foreign, come to Beijing to visit here every day to enjoy its marvelous art.
Beijing also attracts world attention with its growing prosperity. Its speed of development is astonishing, and it brings about changes day after day. Around this graceful ancient capital, a large number of key national projects, massive infrastructure buildings and modern residential houses have sprung up. Wide and smooth highways, magnificent overpasses and expressways link Beijing with other provinces and cities.
As China’s cultural center, Beijing, with a galaxy of talent and a rich culture, has over 70 institutions of higher learning such as the famous Beijing Universituy, Qinghua University, more than 500 scientific research institutions, over 300 publishing houses, as well as hundreds of newspapers and periodicals.
Tian An Men Square, located in the city center, is a symbol of both Beijing and China. The solemn flag-raising ceremony has become a daily celebration.
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