Beijing City, referred to as "Beijing", formerly known as Yanjing, Dadu and Beiping, is the capital and municipality of the People's Republic of China, as well as China's political center, cultural center, international exchange center and scientific and technological innovation center. As a world-famous historical capital, Beijing has accumulated a history of more than 3,000 years and a history of more than 800 years.
Beijing is located in the northern part of the North China Plain, surrounded by mountains in the west, north and northeast, and a plain gently sloping towards the Bohai Sea in the southeast. It belongs to the typical warm temperate semi-humid continental monsoon climate, with four distinct seasons, dry and windy in spring, hot and rainy in summer, high and cool in autumn, and cold and dry in winter, constituting a unique scenery of different seasons such as "Eight Views of Yanjing";
The core of Beijing's charm lies in the majestic and magnificent central axis that runs through the whole city. From the Yongding Gate at the south end to the Bell and Drum Tower at the north end, it is 7.8 kilometers long, bringing together the best of the city's architecture and culture. You can stand in Tiananmen Square and feel the pulse of the country; You can enter the Palace Museum and explore the splendor and mystery of the former imperial city; You can also climb Jingshan Mountain, overlooking the palace complex with golden tiles and red walls and the orderly urban pattern. On both sides of the central axis, the Temple of Heaven, alleys, courtyards and other historical sites are dotted, jointly outlining the style of the ancient capital of Beijing;
In addition to the magnificent imperial buildings, Beijing's culture is also reflected in the life of the city. This is the birthplace of Peking Opera, and its mellow singing voice tells the story of history. The alleys and courtyards scattered all over the streets and alleys carry the "Beijing flavor" culture and record the leisurely lifestyle of Beijingers. The world-famous Peking duck has become the city's most representative food card with its crispy skin and tender meat.
In modern times, Beijing has shown strong innovation vitality while protecting the charm of the ancient capital. As the country's highland of scientific and technological innovation, Zhongguancun and other places have gathered top scientific research institutions and high-tech enterprises. Ancient neighborhoods and modern commercial centers complement each other, and cultural landmarks such as the 798 Art District, which have been converted from old industrial plants, inject an artistic atmosphere into the ancient city, highlighting the perfect blend of history and modernity.
What is there to do in Beijing China?
The best time to visit Beijing is from September to November in the fall.
Autumn in Beijing is known as the "Golden Autumn", when the weather is high and cool, the temperature is suitable, and the air quality is relatively good. The sky is blue and the visibility is high, making it ideal for visiting monuments such as the Forbidden City and the Great Wall and for outdoor activities.
In addition, the autumn leaves of Xiangshan Park and the ginkgo avenue of Diaoyutai also add a unique charm to this ancient capital, making it a golden season for photography and sightseeing.
Beijing's traceable history as a city began in 1045 BC, when it was called "Ji", a fiefdom of the Zhou Dynasty. During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, it became the capital of the State of Yan.
After Kublai Khan established the Yuan Dynasty, he built the magnificent capital "Dadu" in the Beijing area, marking the first time that Beijing became the capital of a unified dynasty. Marco Polo called it "the greatest city in the world."
Emperor Zhu Di of the Ming Dynasty moved the capital from Nanjing to Beijing, On this basis, the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven were built. The Qing Dynasty also used Beijing as its capital, laying the foundation for the modern urban structure of Beijing.
On October 1, 1949, the People's Republic of China was declared established in Tiananmen Square in Beijing. Beijing officially became the capital of New China, opening a new chapter as the country's political and cultural center.
Beijing successfully hosted the 29th Summer Olympic Games, which was the first time that China hosted the Olympic Games. For this event, Beijing built iconic buildings such as the Bird's Nest and the Water Cube, showing its modern appearance to the world.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Beijing
As the world's most magnificent military defense project, the Great Wall embodies the outstanding architecture and engineering technology of ancient China, and is a symbol of the spirit of the Chinese nation.
As the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties, it is the essence of ancient Chinese court architecture, and it is also one of the largest and most well-preserved wooden structures in the world.
This is the discovery site of the early human“Peking Man”, which provides important evidence for the theory of human evolution and is a valuable site for the study of paleoanthropology and prehistory.
The imperial garden of the Qing Dynasty in China, which skillfully integrated man-made landscape with natural landscape, concentrated on the essence of classical Chinese garden art.
The place where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties worshiped the heavens and prayed for the valley, its architectural design is unique, the layout is rigorous, and it is an outstanding example of ancient Chinese sacrificial architecture.
The mausoleum group of the thirteen emperors of the Ming Dynasty has a unified architectural style and magnificent momentum, reflecting the funeral concept and superb architectural level of“ancient China”
As the world's longest man-made canal, its Beijing section is the northern terminus of the canal, which plays a vital role in ensuring Beijing's material supply and promoting economic and cultural exchanges along the route.
Running 7.8 kilometers from north to south of the old city, connecting landmark buildings such as Yongding Gate, the Forbidden City, and the Bell and Drum Tower, reflecting the traditional Chinese capital city planning concept.
Explore Beijing's rich intangible cultural heritage and learn about traditional crafts and cultural essence
2010-11Included
Peking Opera is the quintessence of China, a comprehensive drama that integrates various performing arts forms such as singing, reading, doing, and playing. With Beijing as the center, it has a complete range of roles, a rich repertoire, and unique facial art, which has profoundly influenced China's theater culture.
2010-11Included
Although TCM and acupuncture are a national heritage, Beijing, as a center that brings together many top TCM institutions and experts, occupies a central position in the inheritance, research and practice of acupuncture and moxibustion, and is an important representative area of this intangible cultural heritage.
2011-11Included
Folk art made of animal skins or cardboard to accompany music and performance. As an important part of“Chinese Shadow Puppet”, Beijing Shadow Puppet Theatre has distinctive local characteristics in both singing and modeling.
Transportation you must know when visiting Beijing
The capital airport has an airport express line directly to the city, and the ticket price is 25 yuan.
Daxing Airport has Daxing Airport Line, and the ticket price is 30-35 yuan.
Both airports have airport buses that connect to various points in the city, and fares vary depending on the route.
There are four major railway stations in Beijing: Beijing Railway Station, Beijing West Railway Station, Beijing South Railway Station and Beijing North Railway Station.
The high-speed rail network is well developed, and it is convenient to travel to Tianjin, Shijiazhuang and other surrounding cities.
Beijing has a well-developed subway network, with a total of 27 lines, covering major areas of the city.
Line 1 and Line 2 connect the main attractions, and the ticket price ranges from 2-9 yuan.
E-tickets can be purchased using the Beijing Transportation Card or through the E-Toll APP.
There are more than 1,000 bus lines in Beijing, and the fare is 1-2 yuan.
You can use the Beijing transportation card to enjoy the fare discount.
Bus lanes avoid congestion during peak hours.
The starting price is 14 yuan (within 3 kilometers), and then 2.3 yuan per kilometer.
Nights (23:00-5:00) are subject to a 20% night fee.
It is recommended to use apps such as Didi Chuxing to make an appointment.
Bike-sharing bikes such as Meituan (yellow) and Haro (blue) can be found all over the city and are unlocked using mobile apps.
The cost is about 1-1.5 yuan/15 minutes, which is suitable for short trips.
What to eat in Beijing, you need to know
Peking Duck
Crispy duck skin and tender duck meat, a fun-filled eating experience, a symbol of Beijing cuisine, and a diverse restaurant choice.
Jianbing
Convenient street food, rich textures and flavors, flexible and diverse taste options, affordable prices.
Candied Haw
Crystal clear and alluring appearance, wonderful taste of sweet and sour, convenient and easy to eat, popular on social media.
Rolling Donkey
Interesting names and stories, soft and glutinous textures and sweet fillings, old Beijing snacks.
Boiled Tripe
A unique taste experience, rich flavors of seasonings, traditional Beijing flavors (with halal features).
Mung Bean Milk
A unique and intense taste of Beijing, a traditional Beijing breakfast, potential nutritional value (a taste that needs a lot of adaptation).