Beijing ( formerly called as Peking) is the capital of the People’s Republic of China and the world’s 3rd most populous city.

Over the past 3,000 years, the city of Beijing has had numerous other names. The name Beijing, which means “Northern Capital” was applied to the city in 1403 during the Ming Dynasty.

The city is located in northern China with 16 urban, suburban and rural districts and is  surrounded by Hebei Province with the exception of neighbouring Tianjin Municipality to the southeast.

Beijing is the second largest city in China after Shanghai.  Most of the head quarters of the state-owned companies in China are here. It is a major hub for the Chinese national highway, express way, railway and high speed rail networks.

Beijing is well connected to the world with its international airport which is the second largest and busiest in the world , and internally connects most part of China with its busy subway networks.  Beijing is the political center of the country.

It is surrounded by mountains on three sides and old inner and outer city walls protect the inland. Beijing is very popular touristic spot greatly known for its great and beautiful palaces, temples, parks,tombs,gardens,walls and gates.  Beijing has seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites – the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Ming Tombs, Zhoukoudian, as well as parts of the Great Wall and the Grand Canal, all popular locations for tourism.

The city hosted the 2008 Summer Olympics and was chosen to host the 2022 Winter Olympics, which will make it the first city to ever host both events.

Beijing has 91 universties some of which are ranked very high in the world such as Peking University and Tsinghua University.  Beijing’s Zhongguancun area is also known as China’s Silicon Valley.