Profile of Beijing, From a Local Perspective

Location and Geography:

Located on the northern edge of the North China Plain, China’s capital city Beijing has long been a hub of government and culture. The plain is built from the silt from the Yellow River and is the largest alluvial plain in East Asia. Beijing is 90 miles inland from the Bohai Sea and covers an area of about 6,300 square miles. Beijing has four distinct seasons. Autumn is a great time to visit the city, as the spring is temperate and short, the summers tend to get rainy and the winters are cold and snowy. Average temperatures range from the 90s Fahrenheit in the summer to the 30s in the winter.

Name:

Beijing or 北京 literally means northern capital. The term for capital or jing (京) is also found in Nanjing or southern capital, and Dongjing or eastern capital – which is the Chinese word for Tokyo. There was also once a western capital that referred to the current city of Datong.

Architecture:

The urban landscape of the city includes traditional Chinese ping fang or “flat homes” which are one-story adjoining homes tucked inside winding cobblestone alleyways known as hutongs and modern sky rises and architecture marvels. In the last few years, the capital has seen a flurry of building for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, including the Bird’s Nest stadium and Aquatics Center. China Central Television’s new headquarters will add an even more unique look. The building is a continuous loop instead of free-standing towers. Beijing’s concert hall, known colloquially as “The Egg” is also unusual, it's an ellipsoid dome.

History:

The ancient Zhoukoudian village site where bones of a Homo erectus, known as Peking Man, was found near Beijing, signaled that the region was populated as early as 250,000 years ago. The city has been documented as early as the Warring States Period (473-221 BC) and was established as China’s capital in the Jurchen Jin Dynasty (1115-1234). When the Mongol Yuan Dynasty defeated the Jin, it remained the capital, all the way through the subsequent Ming and Qing Dynasties, with some brief exceptions.. Today, Beijing continues to serve as the head of government, the military, the courts and the National People’s Congress.

Beijing Cuisine:

While Beijing is known for its delicious roasted duck of the same name, its northern location means that it’s also known for its noodles, including hot pot, a communal eating experience. Also popular are handmade dumplings, fried and boiled. Street-side vendors hawk everything from mutton kebabs (from the Xinjiang Region of Northwest China) to candied hawthorn fruit, which taste a little like a mix between a crab apple and a cranberry. The key to understanding the local fare is to be willing to try anything.

Recommendations:

Some tourist traps are unavoidable must-sees, including Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. But there are great ways to experience Bejing off the tourist-bus path. Visit lesser-known parts of the Great Wall, where you can find a spot for an overnight camp-out. The city also has a strong hiking community that plans trips. The China Culture Center offers hands-on activities such as dumpling making and talks by local experts. For the best selection of English-language books visit the Bookworm library and bookstore. Of course, the best way to experience the city is to walk through its magical bailiwicks.