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 Great Hall of the People (left) and National Centre for the Performing Arts (right)
Location of Beijing Municipality within China
Country	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)
• Ranks in China	Population: 27th; Density: 4th
Major ethnic groups
• Han	95%
GDP
• Municipality	CN¥ 4,376 billion (13th) US$ 621 billion
• Per capita	CN¥ 200,273 (1st) US$ 28,421
Time zone	UTC+08:00 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+09:00 (CDT)
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 (pinyin: jīng)
HDI (2022)	0.905 (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 IPA [pèi̯.tɕíŋ] Wu Suzhounese Poh-cin Hakka Romanization Bet5-gin1 Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Bākgīng IPA [pɐ́k̚ kéŋ] Jyutping bak1 ging1 Southern Min Hokkien POJ Pak-kiaⁿ Tâi-lô Pak-kiann Eastern Min Fuzhou BUC Báe̤k-gĭng

Beijing is the exciting capital city of China. It's a huge city with over 22 million people, making it one of the world's biggest capital cities. Beijing is in North China and is managed like a special region directly by the government. It has 16 different districts, from busy city areas to quiet countryside. It's surrounded by Hebei Province and is close to Tianjin. Together, these three areas form a big connected region.

Beijing is a very important city globally. It's a top center for culture, diplomacy, politics, and finance. It's also a leader in education, research, tourism, and science and technology. Many of China's biggest companies have their main offices here. Beijing is also a major hub for transportation, with a huge network of highways, railways, and high-speed trains. Its airports are some of the busiest in the world. Beijing is also the only city to have hosted both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games.

This amazing city mixes old and new styles. You can see modern skyscrapers next to traditional hutong alleys. Beijing is one of the oldest cities in the world, with a history going back over 3,000 years. For most of the last 800 years, it has been China's political heart. The city is famous for its grand palaces, temples, and gardens. Beijing is a top tourist spot, with eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These include the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, and parts of the Great Wall.

Beijing is also a hub for learning and new ideas. It has many top universities, like Tsinghua University and Peking University. The Zhongguancun area is a world leader in science and technology. Beijing is also home to many foreign embassies and important international groups.

What's in a Name?

Over 3,000 years, Beijing has had many names. The name Beijing means "Northern Capital." It comes from the Chinese words 北 (běi) for north and 京 (jīng) for capital. This name was given in 1403 during the Ming dynasty. It helped tell it apart from Nanjing, which means "Southern Capital."

The English spelling Beijing is based on how the Chinese government officially writes the name today. An older English spelling, Peking, was used a long time ago. You might still see "Peking" in some older names, like Peking University. The short Chinese way to write Beijing is 京, which you can see on car license plates.

A Look Back: Beijing's History

Beijing has a very long and interesting history, going back thousands of years.

Early Beginnings

The oldest signs of people living in the Beijing area were found in caves near Zhoukoudian. Here, Peking Man lived about 230,000 to 250,000 years ago. Later, people from the Stone Age also lived here. Archaeologists have found ancient villages from the Stone Age in many parts of Beijing.

The first walled city in Beijing was called Jicheng. It was built in 1045 BC. This city was located near where Xicheng District is today. Later, another group took over Jicheng and made it their capital.

Imperial Eras

After China was united in 221 BC, Jicheng became an important city. It was the northern end of the Grand Canal, a huge waterway built to transport goods. During the Tang dynasty, the city was known as Yanjing. This means "Yan Capital."

In 938, the Khitan Liao dynasty took control and called the city Liao Nanjing, or "Southern Capital." Some of Beijing's oldest buildings, like the Tianning Pagoda, are from this time. Later, the Jurchen Jin dynasty made Beijing their "Central Capital" in 1153.

In 1215, the city was destroyed by Genghis Khan's army. But a few years later, Kublai Khan built a new capital called Khanbaliq for his Yuan dynasty. This new city was built northeast of the old ruins. It greatly increased Beijing's importance.

Ming Dynasty: A New Capital

In 1368, a rebel leader named Zhu Yuanzhang captured Khanbaliq. He started the Ming dynasty. The city was renamed Beiping, meaning "Northern Peace." Later, Zhu Yuanzhang's son, Zhu Di, became the Yongle Emperor. He decided to move the capital back to Beijing.

From 1406 to 1420, amazing new buildings were constructed. These included the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, and Tian'anmen. On October 28, 1420, Beijing officially became the main capital of the Ming dynasty. For many centuries, Beijing was one of the largest cities in the world.

Qing Dynasty and Modern Changes

In 1644, the Manchu army took over Beijing and started the Qing dynasty. Beijing remained the capital. The Qing emperors added some changes to the city, but much of the Ming layout stayed the same. They also built beautiful gardens outside the city, like the Summer Palace.

In the early 1900s, there were some conflicts in Beijing. Later, in 1911, the Qing dynasty ended, and the Republic of China was formed. For a while, the capital moved to Nanjing, and Beijing was again called Beiping.

People's Republic of China

On January 31, 1949, the People's Liberation Army took control of Beijing peacefully. On October 1, 1949, Mao Zedong announced the creation of the People's Republic of China from Tian'anmen. He restored the city's name to Beijing, making it the new capital.

In the 1950s, Beijing grew rapidly. Many old city walls were removed in the 1960s to build the Beijing Subway and new roads. Since the 1980s, Beijing has expanded even more with new ring roads and modern areas like Wangfujing for shopping and Zhongguancun for technology. Beijing has also hosted major international events, like the 2008 Summer Olympics and the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Beijing's Landscape

Beijing's city design is a mix of old and new.

Buildings and Design

You can see three main types of buildings in Beijing. First, there's the traditional style from imperial China. Great examples are the Forbidden City, the Imperial Ancestral Temple, and the Temple of Heaven. These are grand and historical.

Next, there are buildings from the 1950s to 1970s. These are often simpler and more block-like. Finally, there are very modern buildings, especially in the Beijing CBD (Central Business District). Examples include the new CCTV Headquarters and the Beijing National Stadium. Beijing's tallest building is the 528-meter China Zun.

Beijing is also known for its siheyuans. These are traditional homes built around a shared courtyard. Many of these courtyards are connected by narrow alleys called hutongs. These alleys usually run east to west, so the doors face north and south for good Feng Shui (a traditional Chinese practice about energy flow). While many siheyuan and hutong areas are being replaced by new buildings, they are still major tourist attractions.

Environment and Air Quality

Beijing has worked hard to improve its environment. The city has grown a lot, which has led to more pollution. However, the government has taken many steps to reduce air pollution. They have lowered the use of coal and encouraged cleaner energy. They also limit cars on the road during very polluted days.

Joint research shows that some of Beijing's pollution comes from nearby cities. The mountains around Beijing can trap air, making pollution worse. Before the 2008 Olympics, Beijing spent a lot of money to clean the air. They closed factories, stopped construction, and reduced car traffic.

Since 2014, Beijing has made big progress in reducing air pollution. The amount of fine particles in the air has gone down a lot. This is mainly because they switched from coal power to natural gas.

Dust Storms

Sometimes, dust from deserts in northern China blows into Beijing. This causes seasonal dust storms. The city sometimes uses special methods to make it rain. This helps to clear the air and reduce the effects of these storms.

Beijing's Economy

Beijing has a strong and growing economy. It is one of the world's largest city economies.

In 2022, Beijing's total economic output was about $619 billion. This makes it the 13th largest among China's provinces and cities. When you look at the money earned per person, Beijing ranks first in China.

Beijing is home to more headquarters of Fortune Global 500 companies than any other city in the world. These are some of the biggest companies globally. Beijing is also called the "billionaire capital of the world" because so many wealthy people live there. It is a top global city, showing its importance around the world. In 2021, Beijing was ranked as the most competitive city globally.

What Drives the Economy?

Beijing's economy is mostly based on services. This means things like professional services, shopping, information technology, and scientific research. These services make up most of the city's economic activity.

Industry, like manufacturing, is also important but makes up a smaller part of the economy now. Beijing has been moving away from industries that cause a lot of pollution. For example, a big steel company moved out of the city.

In the countryside around Beijing, farmers mostly grow vegetables and fruits instead of grains. This is because more land is being used for forests to help the environment.

Key Economic Areas

Beijing has special areas that are important for its economic growth.

• Zhongguancun: This area is known as China's "Silicon Valley." It's full of tech companies, from big ones to new startups.
• Beijing Financial Street: This is where many large banks and insurance companies have their main offices. China's main financial regulators are also here.
• Beijing Central Business District (CBD): Located in eastern Beijing, this area has many tall office buildings. Most foreign companies and business services are based here.
• Beijing Economic and Technological Development Area (Yizhuang): This is an industrial park that attracts companies in areas like medicine and information technology.
• Beijing Airport Economic Zone: This area around the airport focuses on logistics, airline services, and car manufacturing.
• Beijing Olympic Center Zone: This area around the Olympic Green is becoming a center for entertainment, sports, and business events.

People of Beijing

Beijing is a very diverse city with a large population.

In 2021, Beijing had about 21.89 million people. Most of them live in the city and suburban areas. Beijing is the second-largest city in China by urban population. It has been one of the world's most populated cities for hundreds of years.

Most of Beijing's residents are Han Chinese. There are also many ethnic minority groups living in the city. These include Manchu, Hui, and Korean people. Many foreigners also live in Beijing, including students and business travelers.

The city's population has grown quickly over the last decade, mostly due to people moving there. Beijing has a very educated population, with many residents having a college degree.

Learning and Discovery

Beijing is a world leader in science, technology, and education.

It has been ranked as the number one city globally for scientific research output. This means many important scientific papers come from Beijing. The city is also a leader in physical sciences, chemistry, and environmental sciences.

Beijing has over 90 public colleges and universities, more than any other city in China. It is home to two of the best universities in Asia and the world: Tsinghua University and Peking University. These universities are part of a special group of elite Chinese universities.

The city also hosts the Chinese Academy of Sciences, which is ranked as the top research institute in the world. Beijing's education system for younger students is also very strong. In 2018, 15-year-old students from Beijing performed better than students from many other countries in math, reading, and science tests.

Beijing's Culture

Beijing has a rich and varied culture.

People who live in urban Beijing speak the Beijing dialect. This dialect is the basis for putonghua, which is the standard spoken language in mainland China.

Peking opera is a famous traditional Chinese theater style. It combines singing, talking, and special movements, fighting, and acrobatics. It's considered a very high achievement in Chinese culture.

Beijing cuisine is the local food style. Peking duck is probably the most famous dish. You can also find traditional snacks like Fuling jiabing and many Teahouses.

Beijing is also known for its beautiful traditional crafts. These include cloisonné (metalwork with colorful enamel) and detailed lacquerware (carved and decorated wooden items).

Younger people in Beijing enjoy the city's growing nightlife, with popular areas like Houhai and Sanlitun. In 2012, Beijing was named a "City of Design" by UNESCO.

Must-See Places

Beijing is full of amazing historical sites and attractions.

At the heart of Beijing is the Forbidden City. This huge palace was once home to China's emperors. Today, it's a museum with a vast collection of Chinese art. Around the Forbidden City are beautiful imperial gardens and parks, like Beihai Park and Jingshan Park. These are great places to visit and learn about history.

Right next to the Forbidden City is Tiananmen Square. Here you'll find important landmarks like the Great Hall of the People and the National Museum of China. The Summer Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is another stunning imperial garden where emperors used to relax in the summer.

The Temple of Heaven is a famous religious site where emperors prayed for good harvests. Other well-known temples include the Yonghe Temple and the Niujie Mosque, which is Beijing's oldest mosque.

Beijing also has many museums, like the Capital Museum and the Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution. Outside the city, you can visit the Ming tombs, where thirteen Ming emperors are buried. The Peking Man site at Zhoukoudian is another important historical place. And of course, parts of the famous Great Wall of China are in Beijing, like Badaling and Mutianyu. Beijing is a top tourist city in the world. You can also visit fun theme parks like Universal Studios Beijing and Happy Valley Beijing.

Cultural Traditions

Beijing has many special cultural traditions that are kept alive. These include folk music, traditional dances, and different types of opera.

• Traditional opera like Kunqu and Peking opera.
• Storytelling arts like Xiangsheng.
• Games like Weiqi and Xiangqi.
• Crafts like Ivory carving and Cloisonné.
• Traditional medicine practices.
• Festivals like Miaohui (temple fairs) and the Lantern Festival.

Religions in Beijing

Beijing has a rich history of different religions. Chinese folk religion, Taoism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Islam, and Christianity have all been present in the city for a long time. The city has many temples, mosques, and churches.

Many temples are dedicated to Chinese folk gods. The Temple of Heaven is where emperors used to make sacrifices to the God of Heaven. There are also temples for the Dragon God, Medicine Master, and the Fire God. The White Cloud Temple is an important center for Taoism.

About 11% of Beijing's population practices East Asian Buddhism. The Guangji Temple is the main office for Buddhist groups in China. The Yonghe Temple is a large Tibetan Buddhism temple.

Beijing has about 70 mosques. The Niujie Mosque is the oldest, built over 1,000 years ago. It's a very important place for the Muslim community.

Christianity also has a history in Beijing. The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is the oldest Catholic church, built in 1605. There are also many Protestant churches and a small community of Orthodox Christians.

Media and Entertainment

Beijing is a major center for media in China.

Beijing Television has many channels, and China Central Television (CCTV), China's biggest TV network, has its main office in Beijing. There are also several radio stations, including some that broadcast in English.

Many newspapers are published in Beijing, like the Beijing Evening News and the China Daily (in English). There are also magazines for international visitors.

Beijing Rock Music

Beijing is known for its rock music scene. The first rock band in Beijing was formed in 1979. Many famous Chinese rock bands and artists come from Beijing, like Cui Jian and Tang Dynasty.

Sports in Beijing

Beijing is a city that loves sports and has hosted many big events.

Major Events

Beijing is famous for being the first city ever to host both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games. It hosted the 2008 Summer Olympics and 2008 Summer Paralympics, and then the 2022 Winter Olympics and 2022 Winter Paralympics.

Other big events include the 1990 Asian Games and the 2001 Summer Universiade. Beijing also hosts annual events like the Beijing Marathon and the China Open of Tennis.

Sports Venues

Beijing has many modern sports venues. The MasterCard Center, Workers' Stadium, and Capital Arena are some of the main ones. The Olympic Green was built for the 2008 Olympics and includes the famous National Stadium, also known as the "Bird's Nest."

Professional Teams

Beijing is home to several professional sports teams:

• China Baseball League: Beijing Tigers
• Chinese Basketball Association: Beijing Ducks, Beijing Royal Fighters
• Chinese Super League (football): Beijing Guoan

Getting Around Beijing

Beijing is a huge transportation hub in China. It has many roads, railways, and airports.

Trains and High-Speed Rail

Beijing is a major center for China's railway network. Many train lines connect Beijing to other big cities across the country. It also has six high-speed rail lines, including connections to Shanghai and Guangzhou.

The city has several large railway stations, like Beijing railway station, Beijing West railway station, and Beijing South railway station. From Beijing, you can take direct trains to most major Chinese cities and even to countries like Mongolia and Russia.

Roads and Highways

Beijing's city transport relies on its ring roads. These roads go around the city in circles, with the Forbidden City at the center. The 2nd Ring Road is in the inner city, and as you go further out, the roads become more like expressways.

Traffic jams can be a big problem in Beijing. The city government has tried to reduce traffic by limiting new car registrations and restricting cars with non-Beijing license plates during busy times. They also encourage electric vehicles by making it easier to get license plates for them.

Airports

Beijing has two of the world's largest airports.

Beijing Capital International Airport

The Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) is northeast of the city. It's the second busiest airport in the world. Its Terminal 3 is one of the largest airport terminals anywhere. It's a main hub for airlines like Air China. You can get to the airport by expressway or by the subway.

Beijing Daxing International Airport

The Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) opened in 2019 and is south of the city. It has one of the world's biggest terminal buildings. This airport serves Beijing and nearby areas. It's also connected to the city by high-speed rail and subway.

Visa-Free Travel

Sometimes, tourists from certain countries can stay in Beijing for 72 hours without a visa. This is helpful for people who are just passing through or on a short business trip.

Public Transport

The Beijing Subway is a huge system. It started in 1969 and now has 25 lines and over 780 kilometers of tracks. It's the longest subway system in the world and carries the most passengers each year. The subway is still growing, with plans to add even more lines.

Beijing also has nearly 1,000 public bus and trolleybus lines. Public transport is very affordable, especially if you use a special metro card.

Taxis

Taxis in Beijing are metered. The price depends on the distance and time of day. Most taxis are common car models like Hyundais and Volkswagens.

Bicycles

Beijing used to be famous for its many bicycles. Even though more people use cars now, bicycles are still an important way to get around. Many roads have special lanes for bikes. Beijing is mostly flat, which makes cycling easy. Recently, bike-sharing apps have made cycling popular again.

Beijing's Role in Defense and Space

Beijing is the command center for China's military forces. The Central Military Commission, which manages the military, is located here. The headquarters for China's strategic missiles and nuclear weapons are also in Beijing.

The China National Space Administration, which runs China's space program, is based in Beijing. Several space-related companies are also here. The Beijing Aerospace Command and Control Center tracks all of China's space missions.

Nature and Wildlife

Beijing Municipality has many nature reserves, covering a large area. The mountains around the city are home to various protected animals. These include leopards, red foxes, wild boars, and different types of bats.

The Beijing Aquatic Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center helps protect water animals like the Chinese giant salamander. The Beijing Milu Park is home to a large group of Père David's deer, which are extinct in the wild.

Each year, many migratory birds visit Beijing, including common cranes and swans. The city works to protect these birds from illegal hunting.

The official flowers of Beijing are the Chinese rose and chrysanthemum. The city trees are the Chinese arborvitae and the pagoda tree.

Beijing's Global Connections

Beijing is a very important city for international relations. It is home to the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Silk Road Fund, which help with development and investment in Asia. Beijing also hosts the headquarters of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, making it a key place for international diplomacy.

Sister Cities

Beijing has "sister city" relationships with many cities and regions around the world. This helps build friendships and cooperation between different places. Some of these cities include:

Foreign Embassies

Beijing hosts a large number of foreign embassies. In 2019, there were 173 embassies, 1 consulate, and 3 representative offices in Beijing. This shows how important Beijing is for international diplomacy.

See also

In Spanish: Pekín para niños