Map of Beijing

Author: Compiled by the Press
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2001-12-21
Features: Beijing, abbreviated as "Jing," is the capital of the People's Republic of China and the political, economic, and cultural center of the country. Beijing is one of the world's famous historical and cultural cities and ancient capitals. As early as 700,000 years ago, primitive human tribes known as "Peking Man" appeared in the Zhoukoudian area of Beijing. The city's history dates back over 2,000 years, with its earliest recorded name being "Ji." It became the capital of feudal states such as Ji and Yan in 1045 BC. Since the unification of China by Qin Shi Huang in 221 BC, it has been a key northern city and regional center. Since 938 AD, it has successively served as the secondary capital of the Liao Dynasty, the capital of the Jin Dynasty, the capital of the Yuan Dynasty, and the capital of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. On October 1, 1949, it was officially designated as the capital of the People's Republic of China. Beijing boasts numerous historical and cultural relics, including the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven, and the Zhoukoudian Peking Man Site, all of which have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Tiananmen Square, located in the center of Beijing's urban area, is the largest square in the world, featuring the solemn Mausoleum of Mao Zedong and the Monument to the People's Heroes. Beijing is also the country's largest scientific research and cultural center, home to dozens of renowned universities and the National Library with the most extensive collection of books in the nation. It also includes scientific research institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Zhongguancun Science and Technology Park, known as China's Silicon Valley.
Beijing is located on the northwest edge of the North China Plain, with its city center at 39 degrees north latitude and 116 degrees east longitude. The city covers an area of over 16,000 square kilometers and administers 12 districts (Dongcheng District, Xicheng District, Chongwen District, Xuanwu District, Chaoyang District, Haidian District, Fengtai District, Shijingshan District, Mentougou District, Fangshan District, Tongzhou District, Shunyi District) and 6 counties (Daxing County, Pinggu County, Changping County, Huairou County, Miyun County, Yanqing County), with a population of over 11 million.
Beijing has a warm-temperate, semi-humid continental monsoon climate. Summers are hot and rainy, while winters are cold and dry, with short springs and autumns. The average annual temperature is between 10 and 12 degrees Celsius, with January temperatures ranging from -7 to -4 degrees Celsius and July temperatures ranging from 25 to 26 degrees Celsius. The extreme minimum temperature is -27.4 degrees Celsius, and the extreme maximum temperature exceeds 42 degrees Celsius. The frost-free period lasts for 180 to 200 days annually, with 75% of the annual precipitation concentrated in summer, with heavy rains often occurring in July and August.