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- Overview
- Character of the city
The residents of Beijing speak a dialect of Mandarin Chinese that forms the basis of Modern Standard Chinese (Guoyu), or putonghua (“common language”), which is commonly taught throughout the country.
What UNESCO World Heritage site is found at the heart of Beijing?
The Forbidden City is an imperial palace complex at the heart of Beijing, designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987 in recognition of its importance not only as the centre of Chinese power for five centuries but also for its unparalleled architecture and adherence to the practice of feng shui.
What is the former name of Beijing?
The former name of Beijing is Beiping (Pei-p’ing; “Northern Peace”). The third Ming emperor gave it the new name of Beijing (“Northern Capital”) during the 15th century.
How long has Beijing been the capital of China?
Although much of Beijing’s older and more picturesque character has been destroyed in the drive since 1949 to modernize and industrialize, some parts of the city are still redolent of the past. Many fine monumental buildings, old restaurants, and centres of traditional Chinese arts and crafts remain, and the central government has taken measures to prevent the city core from being further industrialized. Broad new boulevards, replete with even newer commercial ventures, have displaced the colourful stalls and markets for which the city was once famous, but the neighbourhood life of old Beijing can still be glimpsed in the narrow hutongs (residential alleys), with their tiny potted-plant gardens, enclosed courtyards, and (decreasingly) coal-burning stoves—some of which are still guarded by carved stone lions at their gates.
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People in Beijing commute by subway, bus, automobile, or bicycle and on hot summer evenings sit outside their apartment blocks to catch cooling breezes and to chat. The citizenry has a wide range of leisure pursuits, particularly those considered good for health. The ancient art of tai chi chuan (taijuquan; Chinese boxing) is widely practiced, singly or in groups, along roadsides and in parks. Locals as well as tourists are attracted to the many nearby historical sites, such as the Summer Palace, the tombs of the Ming emperors, and the Great Wall. Older people, especially the men, like to huddle in tiny restaurants and tea shops. Young people are drawn to the city’s many cafés and nightclubs, where the entertainment can range from DJ-run dance music to Chinese rock bands.
For all the vicissitudes of its history, Beijing continues to be a source of great pride for its inhabitants. Their obsessions are, as they have been for centuries, food and knowledge: they eat heartily when they have the means and read voraciously. Food stalls on the streets, selling a variety of cooked treats, are well patronized, as are newspaper and magazine kiosks. The ambition of most families is to provide their offspring with a higher education or, if not that, a good job.
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Beijing, Jing for short, is a metropolis in northern China and the capital of China. Lying 70 mi (102 km) west of Bohai Sea, it borders Hebei Province to the north, west, south, and for a small section in the east and Tianjin to the southeast.
- Get lost in Beijing's hutong alleyways. Beijing's highly wander-able matrix of residential lanes has been shrinking for decades, but despite the demolitions, it's still possible to lose yourself in neighborhoods that time (almost) forgot, where old folks play xiangqi (Chinese chess), walk their songbirds and haggle over a few jin of persimmons from a handcart seller.
- Eat jianbing for breakfast (every single day) Take one giant crepe-style pancake, crack an egg or two on top, lather on some furu (fermented bean curd) and chili sauce, sprinkle with cilantro and scallions, fold around a shatteringly crisp sheet of fried dough… and eat!
- Go on a "wild" Great Wall hike. Seeing the Great Wall in its naturally eroded state, snaking away over the ridgelines of mountains with trees erupting from buckled watchtowers, is a sight more fantastical than anything the Game of Thrones art department could dream up.
- Delve deeper into the Forbidden City. Most visitors to Beijing's UNESCO-listed centerpiece focus their energies on the Three Great Halls and parade grounds that comprise the outer court, and they are indeed awe-inspiring.
Our Beijing travel guide covers top places to visit, top things to do, best times to visit Beijing, Beijing transportation, where to stay, and useful travel tips.
China, Asia. From ancient walled capital to showpiece megacity in barely a century, Beijing (Běijīng, 北京), spins a breathless yarn of triumph, tragedy, endurance and innovation.
Welcome to a capital city whose story goes back at least 3,000 years. In Beijing, you'll find a wealth of history, both ancient (the Hall of Preserving Harmony, Summer Palace, Forbidden City) and more recent (Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, Tiananmen Square).
