At the First Plenary Session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) convened in Beiping in September 1949, Beiping was unanimously chosen as the capital of the People's Republic of China and from then on it was renamed Beijing.
Beijing, the capital of the PRC, is one of four municipalities directly under the Central Government. It is not only the nation's political center, but also the cultural, scientific and educational center, and an international exchange center.
Situated on the north edge of the North China Plain, it is sheltered by chains of mountains of Taihang and Yanshan to the west and north. Its southeastern part is a plain.
Beijingcovers a total area of 16,808 square kilometers, with an elevation of 43.5 meters.Beijinghas a population of nearly 12 million.Beijing's administrative sphere covers 13 districts and 5 counties. Those located in urban area traditionally include Dongcheng District, Xicheng District, Chongwen District and Xuanwu District. Northeast part in inner suburb ofBeijinghas developed fast in recent years while its southwest part remains many past characteristics.
Beijinglies in the continental monsoon region in the warm temperature zone and its climate represents as hot and rainy in summer and cold and dry in winter.Beijing's temperate continental climate produces four clearly contrasted seasons: a short spring, rainy and humid summer, long and cold winter, and a very pleasant autumn. The average temperature in January is 4℃and in July it is 26℃. The shorter seasons, spring (usually from the last ten-day period of April and the first ten-day period of June) and autumn (usually from the last ten-day period of August to the end of November) are better seasons for visitingBeijingwhen it is sunny and warm with tourists crowding in the attractions.
Beijingemerged as a city as far back as the Western Zhou Dynasty (11th century-770BC), when it was known as Ji. During the Warring States Period (475-221BC), it was the capital of the State ofYan. Ji remained a city of strategic importance and a trade center for the north for well over a thousand years. Then, in the early 10th century, it became the secondary capital of the Liao Dynasty under the name of Yanjing. Between 1115 and 1911, it served in succession as the capital of the Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, thus becoming a storehouse of Chinese culture, and leaving many superb historical legacies, such as the Tiananmen Gate, the symbol of Beijing as well as of China; Tiananmen Square, the largest city square in the world; the former Imperial Palace (the Forbidden City), the largest and best-preserved ancient architectural complex in the world; and the Great Wall at Badaling, one of the seven wonders of the world. Of these, the formerImperialPalace, the Great Wall, the site of Peking Man at Zhoukoudian, theSummerPalaceand theTempleofHeavenhave been put on the World Cultural Heritage list by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
Since 1949, whenBeijingwas designated as the capital of the PRC, especially in the past two decades since the adoption of reform and opening up to the outside world, the urban construction ofBeijinghas developed at a high speed and tremendous changes have taken place in the city's appearance. Now with many broad roads and tall buildings, remaining its feature of an ancient capital and also demonstrating the modern gracefulness,Beijinghas greatly expanded its foreign exchanges. With its successful bid of 2008 Olympics,Beijingis really becoming an international metropolis.
