Beijing facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Beijing 北京 Peking
Capital and municipality
Beijing Municipality
Beijing central business district with the China Zun (center) Forbidden City Temple of Heaven Great Wall of Badaling Tiananmen Beijing National Stadium "Bird's Nest"
Location of Beijing Municipality within China
Beijing Location in China Show map of China Beijing Location in Asia Show map of Asia
Country	People's Republic of China
Established	1045 BC
Founded by	Zhou dynasty (Western Zhou)
Municipal seat	Tongzhou District
Divisions  - County-level  - Township- level	16 districts 343 towns and subdistricts
Government
• Type	Municipality
• Body	Beijing Municipal People's Congress
Area
• Municipality	16,410.54 km2 (6,336.14 sq mi)
• Land	16,410.54 km2 (6,336.14 sq mi)
• Urban	16,410.54 km2 (6,336.14 sq mi)
• Metro	12,796.5 km2 (4,940.8 sq mi)
Elevation	43.5 m (142.7 ft)
Highest elevation (Mount Ling)	2,303 m (7,556 ft)
Population  (2020 census)
• Municipality	21,893,095
• Density	1,334.0874/km2 (3,455.2706/sq mi)
• Urban	21,893,095
• Urban density	1,334.0874/km2 (3,455.2706/sq mi)
• Metro	22,366,547
• Metro density	1,747.864/km2 (4,526.948/sq mi)
• Population ranking	2nd in China 2nd in Asia 27th as an administrative division Density: 4th
Major ethnic groups
• Han	95%
GDP
• Municipality	CN¥ 4,984 billion (13th) US$ 700 billion
• Per capita	CN¥ 227,652 (1st) US$ 32,038
Time zone	UTC+08:00 (CST)
Postal codes	100000–102629
Area code(s)	10
ISO 3166 code	CN-BJ
Growth	0.7%
License plate prefixes	京A, C, E, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, P, Q 京B (taxis) 京G, Y (outside urban area) 京O, D (police and authorities)
Abbreviation	BJ / 京 (jīng)
HDI (2023)	0.912 (1st) – very high
Website
Symbols Flower China rose (Rosa chinensis) Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium) Tree Chinese arborvitae (Platycladus orientalis) Pagoda tree (Styphnolobium japonicum)

Beijing
"Beijing" in regular Chinese characters
Chinese	北京
Hanyu Pinyin	Běijīng
Postal	Peking Peiping (1368–1403; 1928–1937; 1945–1949)
Literal meaning	"Northern Capital"
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Běijīng Bopomofo ㄅㄟˇ   ㄐㄧㄥ Gwoyeu Romatzyh Beeijing Wade–Giles Pei3-ching1 Tongyong Pinyin Běijing Wu Suzhounese Poh-cin Hakka Romanization Bet5-gin1 Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Bākgīng Jyutping bak1 ging1 Southern Min Hokkien POJ Pak-kiaⁿ Tâi-lô Pak-kiann Eastern Min Fuzhou BUC Báe̤k-gĭng

Beijing (pronounced bay-JING) is the capital city of China. It is one of the biggest cities in the world, with over 21 million people living there. For centuries, it has been a center for culture, politics, science, and education in China. An older English name for the city is Peking.

Beijing is a mix of old and new. It has amazing historical sites like the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, and parts of the Great Wall of China. It also has modern skyscrapers and is a major hub for business and travel. The city's subway system is one of the longest and busiest in the world.

The city is famous for hosting the 2008 Summer Olympics. In 2022, it became the first city ever to host both the Summer and Winter Olympics. Beijing is a global city, meaning it is an important center for the world's economy and culture.

What Does "Beijing" Mean?

The name Beijing (北京) means "Northern Capital" in Chinese. The city was given this name in 1403 during the Ming dynasty. This was to show it was different from Nanjing, which means "Southern Capital."

The older spelling, Peking, came from early European visitors. Today, some places like Peking University and the city's main airport code (PEK) still use this old name. The official abbreviation for Beijing is "BJ".

History of Beijing

Early History

People have lived in the Beijing area for a very long time. Fossils of an early human called Peking Man, who lived around 250,000 years ago, were found in caves near the city.

The first walled city in the area was called Jicheng. It was built over 3,000 years ago, in 1045 BC. For hundreds of years, different kingdoms and dynasties controlled the city. During the Sui dynasty, it became the northern end of the famous Grand Canal, a man-made river used for shipping goods.

The Tianning Pagoda, built around 1120 during the Liao dynasty.

A New Capital City

In the 1200s, Kublai Khan, the grandson of Genghis Khan, built a grand new capital for his Yuan dynasty. He called it Dadu. This city was built near the ruins of older cities and became the foundation for modern Beijing.

In 1368, the Ming dynasty took control. The third Ming emperor, the Yongle Emperor, decided to move the capital from Nanjing to Dadu. He renamed the city Beijing, or "Northern Capital," in 1403. He then began building one of the world's most famous landmarks, the Forbidden City. This huge palace was home to Chinese emperors for almost 500 years. During this time, Beijing became the largest city in the world.

A corner tower of the Forbidden City, built by the Yongle Emperor during the early Ming dynasty.

Qing Dynasty and Modern Times

In 1644, invaders from the north called the Manchus took over and started the Qing dynasty. Beijing remained the capital. The Qing emperors built beautiful gardens and palaces, like the Summer Palace.

In the 1800s and early 1900s, China faced many challenges. During the Second Opium War in 1860, British and French forces entered the city and damaged some palaces. Later, a conflict called the Boxer Rebellion led to foreign armies entering the city again in 1900.

In 1911, a revolution ended the Qing dynasty, and China became a republic. The capital was moved to Nanjing in 1928, and Beijing was renamed Beiping, meaning "Northern Peace." The Second Sino-Japanese War began near Beijing in 1937, and the city was occupied by Japan until the end of World War II in 1945.

The People's Republic of China

Tiananmen is a famous symbol of Beijing and China.

After the Chinese Civil War, the Communist Party came to power. On October 1, 1949, their leader, Mao Zedong, announced the founding of the People's Republic of China from atop Tiananmen Gate. The city's name was changed back to Beijing, and it became the capital once again.

Since then, Beijing has grown into a huge modern city. The old city walls were taken down to build a subway and large ring roads. From 1966 to 1976, China went through a period of major social and political change called the Cultural Revolution, which started in Beijing. In recent decades, the city has modernized rapidly, building skyscrapers and hosting major events like the Olympics.

Geography and Climate

Beijing is located on the northern edge of the North China Plain. Mountains protect the city on its north, northwest, and west sides. These mountains have historically helped defend the city from invaders. The highest point in the area is Mount Dongling, which is 2,303 meters (7,556 feet) tall.

The city itself is flat and spreads out in circles called ring roads. The center of the city is Tian'anmen Square and the Forbidden City.

Beijing has a climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are hot and humid, with most of the year's rain falling from June to August. Winters are cold, dry, and windy. Spring and autumn are mild but can be dry. Sometimes in the spring, dust storms from the Gobi Desert can blow into the city.

What Beijing Looks Like

A view of the Forbidden City from Jingshan Park.

Architecture

The North–South Central Axis of Beijing is a historic line of buildings and landmarks.

You can see three main styles of buildings in Beijing:

• Traditional Chinese architecture: This includes beautiful old buildings like the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven, with their curved roofs and detailed decorations.
• "Sino-Sov" style: These are boxy, simple buildings from the 1950s to the 1970s.
• Modern architecture: In areas like the Beijing CBD, you can see amazing modern skyscrapers, like the CCTV Headquarters building, and unique structures like the National Stadium (the "Bird's Nest").

Wangjing SOHO is an example of modern architecture in Beijing.

Beijing is also famous for its traditional neighborhoods made up of hutongs (narrow alleys) and siheyuans (courtyard houses). In a siheyuan, several houses are built around a shared courtyard. Sadly, many hutongs and siheyuans are being torn down to make way for modern buildings.

Environmental Issues

The Forbidden City seen through heavy smog in 2016.

Like many big cities, Beijing has faced environmental challenges, especially air pollution, often called smog. The pollution comes from cars, factories, and burning coal for heat and electricity. The government has been working hard to fix this problem.

To improve air quality, the city has closed old factories, switched from coal to cleaner natural gas, and limited the number of cars on the road. These efforts helped a lot during the 2008 Summer Olympics and have continued since. The air quality in Beijing has gotten much better in recent years.

Government and Districts

As the capital of China, Beijing is the home of the national government. The city itself is run by a mayor and a party secretary. Beijing is a special type of city called a municipality, which means it has the same status as a province.

The city is divided into 16 districts. The central districts, like Dongcheng and Xicheng, are where you'll find most of the historical sites. Other districts are suburban or rural.

Administrative divisions of Beijing
Dongcheng Xicheng Chaoyang Fengtai Shijingshan Haidian Mentougou Fangshan Tongzhou Shunyi Changping Daxing Huairou Pinggu Miyun Yanqing
Division code	Division	Area in km2	Total population 2020	Urban area population 2020	Seat	Postal code	Subdivisions
							Subdistricts	Towns	Townships	Residential communities	Villages
110000	Beijing	16406.16	21,893,095	19,166,433	Dongcheng / Tongzhou	100000	149	143	38	2538	3857
110101	Dongcheng	41.82	708,829		Jingshan Subdistrict	100000	17			216
110102	Xicheng	50.33	1,106,214		Jinrong Street Subdistrict	100000	15			259
110105	Chaoyang	454.78	3,452,460		Chaowai Subdistrict	100000	24		19	358	5
110106	Fengtai	305.53	2,019,764	2,003,652	Fengtai Subdistrict	100000	16	2	3	254	73
110107	Shijingshan	84.38	567,851		Lugu Subdistrict	100000	9			130
110108	Haidian	430.77	3,133,469	3,058,731	Haidian Subdistrict	100000	22	7		603	84
110109	Mentougou	1447.85	392,606	358,945	Dayu Subdistrict	102300	4	9		124	179
110111	Fangshan	1994.73	1,312,778	1,025,320	Gongchen Subdistrict	102400	8	14	6	108	462
110112	Tongzhou	905.79	1,840,295	1,361,403	Beiyuan Subdistrict	101100	6	10	1	40	480
110113	Shunyi	1019.51	1,324,044	875,261	Shengli Subdistrict	101300	6	19		61	449
110114	Changping	1342.47	2,269,487	1,856,115	Chengbei Subdistrict	102200	8	14		180	303
110115	Daxing	1036.34	1,993,591	1,622,382	Xingfeng Subdistrict	102600	5	14		64	547
110116	Huairou	2122.82	441,040	334,682	Longshan Subdistrict	101400	2	12	2	27	286
110117	Pinggu	948.24	457,313	278,501	Binhe Subdistrict	101200	2	14	2	23	275
110118	Miyun	2225.92	527,683	350,398	Gulou Subdistrict	101500	2	17	1	57	338
110119	Yanqing	1994.89	345,671	205,689	Rulin Subdistrict	102100	3	11	4	34	376

Economy

The Taikoo Li Sanlitun shopping area is a popular spot for shopping and entertainment.

Beijing has a very strong and modern economy. It is a post-industrial economy, which means most of its money comes from services instead of factories. Important industries include finance, information technology (IT), scientific research, and tourism.

Many of China's largest companies have their headquarters in Beijing. The city is also home to more headquarters of Fortune Global 500 companies than any other city in the world.

Zhongguancun is a major technology hub, sometimes called "China's Silicon Valley."

Some important economic zones in Beijing are:

• Zhongguancun: This area is known as "China's Silicon Valley" because it is home to many technology companies.
• Beijing Central Business District (CBD): This is where you'll find most of the city's tallest skyscrapers and the offices of many international companies.
• Beijing Financial Street: This is the center for China's biggest banks and financial companies.

People and Education

As of 2021, Beijing's population was about 21.89 million people. It is the second-largest city in China after Shanghai. Most of the people living in Beijing are Han Chinese, but there are also many ethnic minority groups, including Manchu, Hui, and Mongol people.

Beijing is a world-leading center for education and research. It has more than 90 universities and colleges. Two of the best universities in all of Asia, Peking University and Tsinghua University, are located here. The city is also home to the Chinese Academy of Sciences, one of the top research institutions in the world.

Culture

Language and Opera

Peking opera is a famous traditional art form known for its colorful costumes and unique singing style.

The local language is the Beijing dialect, which is the basis for Standard Mandarin Chinese, the official language of China.

One of Beijing's most famous cultural treasures is Peking opera. It's a type of Chinese theater that combines singing, speaking, acting, and acrobatics. The performers wear elaborate costumes and makeup to tell stories from Chinese history and folklore.

Food and Art

Sliced Peking duck is a world-famous dish from Beijing.

Beijing has its own special style of cooking. The most famous dish is Peking duck, which is known for its crispy skin and tender meat. It is often served with thin pancakes, scallions, and a sweet bean sauce.

The city is also known for its beautiful traditional crafts. Cloisonné is a technique of creating colorful designs on metal objects with enamel. Lacquerware involves carving detailed patterns into objects coated with many layers of lacquer.

Places to Visit

Beijing is filled with incredible places to see. Many of them are recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Famous Landmarks

The Temple of Heaven is where emperors once prayed for good harvests.

• Forbidden City: The former imperial palace for 24 emperors. It is a massive complex of palaces, halls, and gardens right in the center of Beijing.
• Tiananmen Square: A huge public square in front of the Forbidden City. It is surrounded by important buildings like the Great Hall of the People and the National Museum of China.
• Temple of Heaven: A beautiful temple complex where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties would pray to heaven for a good harvest.
• Summer Palace: A vast and beautiful park with lakes, gardens, and palaces. It was used as a summer retreat for the emperors.
• Great Wall of China: Several sections of the Great Wall, such as Badaling and Mutianyu, are located just outside Beijing and are popular for day trips.

Parks and Museums

Beijing has many beautiful parks, like Beihai Park, which is a classic example of a Chinese imperial garden. The Beijing Zoo is famous for its collection of animals, especially the giant panda.

The city also has over 100 museums. The National Museum of China is one of the largest in the world, and the Palace Museum (inside the Forbidden City) holds a huge collection of imperial treasures.

Sports

The opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics was a spectacular event.

Beijing is a major city for sports. It is the only city in the world to have hosted both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games.

• 2008 Summer Olympics: For these games, Beijing built amazing venues like the Beijing National Stadium (the "Bird's Nest") and the National Aquatics Center (the "Water Cube").
• 2022 Winter Olympics: The city reused many of the 2008 venues and also built new ones for winter sports.

Beijing is home to many professional sports teams, including the popular soccer team Beijing Guoan and the basketball team, the Beijing Ducks.

Transportation

Getting around Beijing is easy thanks to its modern transportation system. In late 2010, Beijing's government introduced strict measures to reduce traffic congestion. These rules limited new car registrations to 20,000 per month and banned non-local cars from the city center during rush hour. The government can also impose further restrictions during major events or periods of heavy pollution.

To legally drive in Beijing, residents must win a license plate lottery. However, the city encourages the adoption of electric vehicles by giving applicants for fully electric cars a much higher chance of winning. Owners of these vehicles are also exempt from weekday driving bans.

Subway and Buses

The Beijing Subway is one of the longest and busiest in the world. It has over 25 lines that connect almost every part of the city. It's a fast, clean, and affordable way to travel. The city also has a large network of public buses.

Airports and Trains

Beijing South railway station is a major hub for China's high-speed trains.

Beijing has two huge international airports:

• Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)
• Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX), which opened in 2019 and has one of the largest terminal buildings in the world.

Beijing is also a major hub for China's amazing high-speed rail network. You can take a high-speed train from Beijing to almost any other major city in China, including Shanghai and Guangzhou.

Bicycles

Beijing was once known as the "Bicycle Kingdom." While cars are much more common now, many people still ride bikes. The city is mostly flat, and there are bike lanes on many streets. In recent years, bike-sharing systems have become very popular, making it easy for anyone to rent a bike using a smartphone app.

See also

In Spanish: Pekín para niños