Beijing
北京
Local Economy and Culture
Beijing is the capital of China and the second largest city in China. The meaning of its name - “Northern (Bei) Capital (Jing)” - directly relates to its political, social, and economy importance. The local resident urban population (the hukou population) totals approximately 9 million, but the true population runs closer to 13 million with the addition of roughly 3 million migrants (the “floating population”) from all around the country. Beijing is a major airline and train hub for travel to nearly all other destinations in China, and is usually the embarking point for numerous travel itineraries heading either south or along the fabled Silk Road. With a budget of over 40 billion dollars, construction for the 2008 Summer Olympics has given the face a (often controversial) face-lift. Many new transit and light rail and subway lines have been built, along with some of the world’s most dazzling (if not ostentatious, depending on your taste!) new architecture, but the cost beyond monetary terms has also included the tearing down and bulldozing of historically relevant architecture. Many Beijing residents feel the city is changing too fast for the sake of modernization. The “city” is more like a province, with an total area of over 16.8 thousand square kilometers, with provincial-level status and a suburban periphery that includes 2,734 counties.
Historical significance of Beijing
Beijing was existed under a number of names, and has served as the capital for numerous kingdoms, fiefdoms, and dynasties. The earliest settlements date back to the Paleolithic period, from which remains have been discovered. The city was first established in 473 BCE as the capital of the Yan Kingdom during the Warring States period. Later, the Liao established their middle capital (”Zhong Du”) on the outskirts of what is today municipal Beijing, and the Jurchen Jin Dynasty, after conquering the Liao, set up their capital at the same location. Beijing under the Mongol Yuan Dynasty (1276 - 1368) was called Dadu, or “Major Capital.” During the early Ming, the Prince of Yan (uncle to 2nd Ming emperor) usurped the throne and moved the capital from Nanjing in the south to Yanjing, which he then renamed Beijing. The city has nearly continuously served as the capital for the rest of the Ming, all of the Qing period, and the PRC, with the only exception being the period between 1927 and 1949 (when the KMT moved the capital to Nanjing, and again to Xi’an and then Chongqing in retreat from the Japanese invasion).
Tourist Attractions in Beijing
As the capital, Beijing is rich in exotic foods and cultures from around the country. Important sites include the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, Tian’anmen Square, the Temple of Heaven, Niujie district, the Beijing City Museum, the Llama Temple, and the Summer Palace. Aside from these major tourist attractions, see our blog postings on other great stuff and updates.
When to visit Beijing
Summer is always the best time, but Spring and Autumn are also convenient times to visit. Avoid late summer — aside from the blistering heat (the amount of pavement doesn’t help), Beijing is home to more universities than any other place in China, meaning thousands of college students all cramming into trains and buses to get there before the school term starts. If you’re already there, great, but it may be difficult to get there if you try to go in late August.
Recent Articles about Beijing
