Beijing, as the capital city of China, is the political and cultural center of the country. The city’s history can be traced back to the earliest inhabitation by Beijing Man in prehistoric times, 700,000 years ago. Beijing’s history as an imperial capital dates from the Spring and Autumn Period (770 B.C. - 476 B.C.). It served as the political and cultural center in the successive dynasties of Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing in China’s long history and consequently gave rise to a great number of historical and cultural relics and antiquities. Many visitors from all over the world come to explore the splendid history of both the capital and the country.
It has become a sparkling metropolis with modern skyscrapers, shopping malls, efficient transport routes and numerous foreign investment enterprises.
It is an attractive location for foreign enterprises and the expatriates.
It is an ideal place for families, offering an abundance of international schools, from kindergarteners to college students, which follow Western curricula and employ Western teachers.
Its shopping streets are too numerous to list, offering all the domestic and international brand-names you'd expect, but for foreigners knock-offs at markets like Yaxiu and Silk Street Market are much more popular.
It is a gourmand's paradise with a full range of delicious cuisines from different regions at home and abroad. Restaurants in the city provide everything including the well-known Roast Duck , the gourmet Imperial Court Cuisine, flavored Mongolia Hotpot and hundreds of local snacks. There are also numerous western food restaurants providing a range of American, Brazilian, French, German, Indian and other cuisines catering for those who miss their home dishes.
Western ingredients are also easy to find in Beijing. Supermarkets like Carrefour, Wal-Mart, Metro, Trust Mart, April Gourmet and Jenny Lou's have the cheeses, cereals, coffees, pasta and other food you're craving. In areas with high concentrations of Westerners, many neighborhood markets offer these ingredients too.
Take a Beijing tour is absolutely worthwhile! The Great Wall of China, the grandest ancient military fortification in the world, is a must for every traveler to China. The Forbidden City, a splendid complex of imperial palaces from China's Ming and Qing dynasties in the center of the city, shows the luxurious life of the Chinese emperors. Other imperial structures that are worth visiting include Summer Palace, Beihai Park and Temple of Heaven. And, no forget about Beijing's hutongs and courtyard complexes from where travelers feel the traditional daily life of the ordinary Beijing people!
Welcome to Beijing!