Flight to China

Zhangjiajie Overview

Location

Situated in north latitude 2852′ - 2948′ and east longitude 10940′ - 11120′, in the northwest part of Hunan province.

Brief Introduction

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, set up in 1982, is the first authorized national forest park in China. The area covers 480 thousand square meters (185 square miles). This park, together with Suoxiyu Natural Resource Reserve, Tianzishan Natural Resource Reserve and Yaozizhai makes up the Wulingyuan Scenic Area, also known as Zhangjiajie Scenic Spot. It is located 32 kilometers (19 miles) from urban Zhangjiajie and 28 kilometers (17 miles) from Wulingyuan Scenic Area.

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park has been described differently, such as, majestic, eccentric, tranquil, delicate and wild. The park features grotesque peaks, lucid brooks, abundant fauna and floras and hospitable climate. There are six main scenic spots and over 90 smaller ones in the park to date.

Climate

It belongs to the sub-tropical climate of Central Asia. Splendid mountains and luxuriant trees help form a favorable climate: warm in winter and cool in summer. The average temperature is 13C (55F), the highest 17C (62F ) while the lowest is 10C (50F) on average in winter. The charm of the park varies with the alternation of seasons; therefore, it attracts visitors all year round. Besides its pleasant climate, the environment and air quality also provide visitors a chance to breathe healthy air which is believed to be rich in negative oxygen. It is also believed that hypertension patient may have their blood pressure lowered if they stay in the park for a period of time. This is due to the fact that dust particles in the park are 88% lower and the air 10% mistier than outside.

Foliage

About 98% of the area is covered with vegetation. There are 720 species of the 102 families, including all the five most important floras, namely, the rose family, pulse family, grass family, composite family and orchid family. Some of these trees are rare and regarded as national treasure. For example, the Dove tree, known as living fossil, can be traced back as early as the Fourth Ice Age. The great variety of plants in the park takes up 82% of all the flora families in Hunan Province.

Animals

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park also boasts a variety of animals. Exuberant forests offer them ideal habitats to live in and procreate their own species. There are more than 149 kinds of chordate animals inhabitants in this park. Among them, 28 kinds are under national protection, amongst which, are the Golden Pheasant, Rhesus Monkey, Giant Salamander and Musk Deer. Visitors will be able to hear birds singing and see monkeys playing in the tree.

Main scenic spots

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is endowed with many scenic spots, such as the Yellow Stone Stronghold (Huangshizhai), Yaozizhai, Yuanjiajie and the Golden Whip Stream.

Yellow Stone Stronghold (Huangshizhai)

Yellow Stone Stronghold (Huangshizhai), Yaozizhai is located west of the park. It is named after a story whereby Huang Shi saved Zhang Liang from misfortune when the latter isolated himself from society in this forest.

Occupying an area of 41 acres and 1,200 meters (0.8 miles) above sea level, this stronghold is the largest observing spot of the forest park. One cannot claim to have visited Zhangjiajie without visiting Yellow Stone Stronghold. The main scenic spots include Tranquil Trail in Fir Woods, Imperial Edict and the Precious Box, Needle Peak, the Southern Gate to Heaven, Five-Finger Peak and so on.

Golden Whip Stream

Sceneries along the Golden Whip Stream are most enchanting in the park. Named after the Golden Whip Rock that it flows by, this stream, 5.7 kilometers long (3.5 miles), joins the Lute stream in the west and Suoxi Stream in the east. A 300-meter (984 feet) walk from the gate of the park will lead you to the entrance of the Golden Whip Stream. Flanked by ridges and peaks, the crystal clear water makes it possible to observe every action of the fish in the water. Wild flowers are in abundance here.

On the way, girls from Tujia will present visitors traditional folk songs when requested. The main scenic spots here include: the Welcoming Guests Rock, Golden Whip Rock, Reunion Rock and the Purple Grass Pond.

Yuanjiajie

The northern part of the park is the essential tourist route. Yuanjiajie is a natural platform that faces giant rocks rising from deep valleys and surrounded by higher mountains. Unique in their shapes and covered with pine trees, these rocks resemble a vivid Chinese painting.

Main scenic spots include: Back Garden, breath taking Mihun Stage and the First Bridge under the Sun.

Zhangjiajie Forest Park: CNY 245
Huanglong Cave: CNY 80
Baofeng Lake: CNY 74

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Changsha Overview

Changsha Location: located at 111^o53′- 114^o5′ east longitude and 27^o51′- 28^o40′ north latitude; situated in the east and central part of Hunan and the lower reaches of Xiang River.

Neighboring Areas: Jiangxi, Guangdong, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Hubei Provinces; Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region

Physical Features: high in the south and west and low in the north and east with the Xiang River running through the city from south to north; 296-meter-high Mt.Yuelu in the west and Liuyanghe River and Ladaohe River east

Population: 5.71 million
Urban Population: 1.63 million
Area: 11,818 sq km

Nationalities: Han

Sport Venues:Helong Sport Venues

History: Originally called Qingyang, Changsha’s history dates back to the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods (770-331 B.C.). After the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty unified China the Changsha prefecture was established. Changsha was opened to foreign traders in 1904.

Climatic Features: The four seasons is obvious and acceptable in Changsha. Rainy and wet, the temperature increases rapidly and is changeful in spring. Summer is long and broiling, which has unbalanced rainfall. Comfortable and abundant sunlight that you can enjoy is in autumn. In winter it is nearly rainless and not very cold.

See:The school Chairman Mao(毛主席) had studied for some years And The Yuelu Mountain which has the most famous Academy Yuelu Academy and the Aiwan pavilion in China in old times is worth to have a look !

Average Temperature: 17.5^oC annually and 4.6^oC in January and 28.6^oC in July
Rainfall: annual average of 1,378 mm

Mountains: Mt. Yuelu
Rivers: Xiangjiang River, Liuyanghe River and Ladaohe River

Products: rice, tea, cotton, tobacco, hemp and timber

Local Highlights: Xiangxiu embroidery, earthenware and delicious local snacks

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Shenzhen Overview

Shenzhen, situated just across the border from Hong Kong, is a beautiful coastal garden city in South China. It is a city of sunshine and modernity, where economic development keeps pace with social development, and people live in harmony with nature.  

Shenzhen which is the China’s first special economic zone established via the patronage of the late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping is a pioneering and innovative city. It is in the vanguard of China’s reforms and opening up to the rest of the world. In its short history of 27 years, Shenzhen has developed from a small fishing village into a modern city with a gross domestic product (GDP) per capita which gives it premier ranking in China. This is a remarkable achievement, notable in the annals of urbanization, industrialization and modernization across the globe.    

As Shenzhen embraces the world, concomitantly it is becoming internationalized. As China’s first special economic zone, Shenzhen began to open up to the rest of the world in 1980, becoming one of the country’s major channels of communication with the outside world. Shenzhen has 17 sea, land and air ports, including China’s largest land passenger port and land cargo port. In 2011, the 26th Universiade will be held here, which will make Shenzhen the youngest city in history to host the Games.    

Shenzhen is a city with deep cultural roots that sit in tandem with its creative and modern ethos. It is said to have a history of 5,000 years, but was only founded 27 years ago. Since its foundation, Shenzhen has created a migrant culture and an innovative spirit of “encouraging innovation and pursuing excellence.” At the forefront of Chinese cities in promoting the use of voluntary services, it boasts about 530,000 volunteers in various fields of activity. Moreover, given the high level of public services offered by the city’s government departments, Shenzhen is one of China’s “10 Most Welcomed Cities for Rural Migrant Workers.”

Shenzhen energetically prepares to meet the world, and enthusiastically welcomes your arrival!

Geographical Location

Shenzhen is a coastal city, close to Hong Kong, in South China. Its longitude lies between 113.46 and 114.37 degrees east, and its latitude is between 22.27 and 22.52 degrees north. Sitting south of the Tropic of Cancer, it is in the south of Guangdong Province. Demarcated from Hong Kong by Shenzhen River to the south, it is bordered by Dongguan and Huizhou to the north, Daya Bay and Dapeng Bay to the east, and Lingding Sea and the mouth of the Pearl River to the west.

Natural Resources

The total area of Shenzhen is 1,952.84 square kilometers and within that, the size of the special economic zone is 395.81 square kilometers.

Shenzhen has more than 160 rivers and streams, which are associated with the hydrographic systems of the Dongjiang River, sea bays and Pearl River mouth. There are 24 reservoirs in the city, with a total volume of 525 million cubic meters. Shenzhen Reservoir in the east of the urban district has a total volume of more than 40 million cubic meters. It is the main water source for Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

Shenzhen has a 230-kilometer-long coastline rich with maritime life and products. Deep-water ports have been built at various locations in the city. Several beautiful mountains range across Shenzhen; the city’s highest peak has an altitude of 943.7 meters. The city boasts rich natural resources, ideal for developing tourism. To the east lie the popular beach resorts of Dameisha, Xiaomeisha and Dapeng Bay. To the west lie scenic areas, including Mangrove Nature Reserve, Inner Lingding Island, and Water Resort.?

Administration

Shenzhen is a city in Guangdong Province administered by the Guangdong Provincial Government. It is also a vice-provincial city directly administered by the Central Government. The Shenzhen Special Economic Zone is within the city’s administration. The Shenzhen Municipal Government governs six districts. Luohu, Futian, Nanshan and Yantian districts are within the Special Economic Zone, while Bao’an and Longgang districts are outside it. The city has a total of 51 sub-district offices and 620 residents’ committees. In 2006, 378 million people visited the Special Economic Zone, and 110 million vehicles passed through the city’s various checkpoints.

Demographic Structure

Although migrants began moving to the Shenzhen area at the end of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), dramatic population growth occurred only after Shenzhen City was founded in 1980. By the end of 2006, the city had 8.4643 million permanent residents, of whom 1.9683 million were hukou households, and 6.496 million were non-hukou households. The non-hukou households made up 76.7 percent of the total population. The city’s population density is 4,334 people per square kilometer. The average expectation of life in the city is 76.71 years old, which is more than some advanced countries. Shenzhen has a minority population of more than 360,000 people, and is the second city in China after Beijing to have all 56 ethnic minorities in China represented in it.

Migrant Culture

Shenzhen showcases China’s policy to open up to the outside world. It’s a melting pot of cultures brought in by migrants. The city’s amenities make it an ideal place for entrepreneurs from China and abroad to start their businesses. In recent years, the city has won awards from media and industry as “The Most Dynamic City in Economic Development” and “The Most Welcomed City for Rural Migrant Workers.”

Languages

Shenzhen has putonghua as its mainstream dialect. Most public service workers, professionals and businesspeople as well as most of young students in the city can speak English. Talented and well-educated professionals who are bilingual and trilingual (Mandarin, Cantonese and English) can be found in the city. The “Speak?Shenzhen” campaign is being launched across the city to encourage more residents and government employees to learn and speak English.

Climate

Shenzhen has a mild, subtropical maritime climate with plenty of both rain and sunshine. The annual average temperature is 22.4?; as many as 355 days per year are frost-free. Annual average rainfall is 1,933.3 mm and solar radiation is 2,120.5 hours. Tourism and tourist activities are possible all year round.

Urban Construction

In the 27 years since the foundation of Shenzhen, an urban infrastructure of streets, lighting, sewage, environmental care, drainage and transport has been developed in Shenzhen. The city government strives to improve its management of the infrastructure network. The city’s construction area totals 719.88 square kilometers. In 2006, the city’s investment in urban infrastructure reached 40.784 billion yuan, up 23.9 percent over the previous year. Tap water is now available for use in all households in the city.

Environmental Protection

“Giving the Environment and People the Top Priority” has been an imperative to enable city residents to breathe fresh air, drink clean water and eat safe food. In 2006, environmental concerns were addressed well. Statistics show that 93.7 percent of everyday life waste was dealt with properly. 98.1 percent of water in the city’s major reservoir for drinking water supply and 96.2 percent of the processed industrial wastewater met standards. Air quality reached national standards (at the first and second levels) on 359 days out of 365. A total of 399.46 square kilometers in the city met noise standards.

To encourage city residents to take part in environmental protection, the “Prize for Shenzhen Residents’ Environmental Protection” was established in 2004. The city government will invest 25 billion yuan in 294 projects in the fields of water, air, noise, and solid waste from 2006 through 2010. 

Beautiful, Ecological Garden City

Shenzhen has a beautiful, natural environment. The green area of the city, with 16.01 square meters of greenery per person, covers 45 percent of the urban area. Forests cover 47.6 percent of the city’s total land area. The city has 442 parks totaling 240.40 hectares. Shenzhen has won awards from domestic and overseas authorities, which include “Nations in Bloom,” UNEP’s “Global Top 500 Laureate Roll of Honor,” “National Hygienic City,” “National Model City for Environmental Protection,” “Model City for Protection of Ozone Layer,” “National Greenery Model City,” “National Brilliant Tourism City.”

Shenzhen is the “City of Parks.” At present, the city has more than 400 parks, scenic zones, and forest parks. By 2010, the number of forest parks in the city will reach 17, which will make up 22.03 percent of the city’s total land area.

China’s City with the Highest Comprehensive Quality of Life Index
In 2005, the International Urban Development Research Institute in Beijing released the Report on Quality of Life in China’s Cities. It surveyed quality of life indices in the country’s 100 key cities. Shenzhen was listed in first place with the highest quality of life index.

Asia-Pacific International City, Adjacent to Hong Kong

Downtown Shenzhen is only a 45-minute drive from Hong Kong.  The government of Shenzhen plans, over the next 15 years, to modernize Shenzhen in accordance with socialist ideals and to develop the city into a key regional and international metropolis.

More than 13,000 expatriates live and work in Shenzhen on a long-term basis, which has been key to the increasing internationalization of the city. The expatriates come from 111 counties; most are representatives sent by foreign companies to China, employees of foreign-invested enterprises, cultural workers, teachers, and foreign students. In 2005, the number of foreigners who entered the country through various checkpoints in Shenzhen totaled 3.4 million. About 5 percent of the city’s residential buildings were purchased by foreigners and people from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.

Shenzhen-Hong Kong Cooperation

Because of their geological proximity, Shenzhen and Hong Kong have been mutually dependent economically for a long time. Eggs, fish, meat, vegetables, dairy products and other daily necessities in Hong Kong are sourced mainly from Shenzhen. Every year, Shenzhen Reservoir channels a total of 1.1 billion cubic meters of water from the Dongjiang River to Hong Kong. The Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant, located in eastern Shenzhen, transmits electricity to Hong Kong. Of the overseas investment in Shenzhen, above 70 percent is from Hong Kong. Many companies from Shenzhen have made their initial public offerings in Hong Kong.

In recent years, the government of Shenzhen has developed the concept of “Learning from Hong Kong and Serving Hong Kong,” It has established a mechanism for communication and consultation on key issues with the government of Hong Kong. Mutual cooperation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong has been strengthened in fields covering checkpoint control, border infrastructure construction, trade, science and technology, education, finance, and tourism. In April 2007, Shenzhen and Hong Kong completed the third phase of their joint project of the Shenzhen River cleanup, which significantly raised the flood control standard in the Shenzhen River region such that infrequent but major floods can be controlled. The Shenzhen-Hong Kong Western Corridor, which will be put into use in July 2007, will promote the ties between Shenzhen and Hong Kong even more closely.

A Civilized City of Great Repute

Shenzhen is advancing its urban cultural development plans. These aim to prioritize people’s interests, to enhance people’s creativity, to develop respect for people’s rights, and to develop people’s interests in the city. Shenzhen residents enjoy increasing cultural and welfare rights. The city government has improved the city’s public cultural infrastructure. It has launched various cultural campaigns to develop civic amenities for city residents. For example, the “Shenzhen Reading Month” has been welcomed by city residents, helping them to realize their cultural rights and satisfying their spiritual needs also. Project Care is launched every year in Shenzhen to encourage city residents to help underprivileged and needy people.

Shenzhen’s urban civilization index and city residents’ Project Care index have increased year by year. Shenzhen has won the “National Model City for Supporting the Amy and Cherishing the People” award over the past three consecutive years. In 2005, the city was chosen as one of “China’s Top 10 Civilized Cities.”    

Voluntary Workers

Shenzhen has more than 200 charity organizations, including organizations involved in voluntary work. More than 530,000 people have been involved in voluntary work of different types. Established in 1990, the Shenzhen Volunteers’ Association is the oldest voluntary work organization in China. Currently its youngest member is only 14 years old and the oldest 78. They engage in providing more than 30 service items in 16 categories. “Seeking volunteers’ help when you are in trouble; doing voluntary work when you have time” has become a catchphrase amongst Shenzhen residents.

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The Bund

     The Bund, also called the Zhongshan Road, is a famous waterfront and regarded as the symbol of Shanghai for hundreds of years. It starts from the Baidu Bridge, which is at the connecting point of the Huangpu River and the Suzhou Creek, to the East Jinling Road and winds a 1500 meters (less than one mile) length. Walking along The Bund, which is at the west shore of the Huangpu River, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower can be seen on the opposite side and also the Jin Mao Tower.Being one of the Top Ten Shanghai Attractions, The Bund is a really beautiful and special place which is worth visiting. The newly-built Flood Control Bank takes the function of preventing the oversize flood; the square with the statue of Marshal Chen Yi is an open air podium which gives new views of the Shanghai Plaza Culture; the Cenotaph which stands on the man-made island is a monument of people’s heroes; the riverside greenbelt, the Electronic Waterfall Bell, and the Great Mural Carving are all representatives of The Bund.

     As you walk through Shanghai, it may feel as though you are entering a fair of world architecture or an art gallery of human civilization. In fact, Shanghai is unique among world cities in its variety of architectural styles. This variety reflects the wisdom and efforts of architects, engineers, and workers–both foreign and domestic–and is a precious legacy to the world.

     Take a walk along The Bund (Zhongshan Road), once the most famous street in Asia. It is a tree-lined promenade along the Huangpu River. The major firms of the Far East had their headquarters in the buildings facing the river. First among them is the former Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, which after 1949 was used as the city Communist Party Headquarters. It is now the home of the Shanghai Pudong Development Bank. One of the conditions for the bank to move to this building was that they restore it to its original grandeur, which apparently was quite grand. (Note that in 1992 the waterfront was raised for anti-flooding purposes and to provide more room for visitors to take photographs of each other!)

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Districts of Shanghai

Shanghai is split in two by the Huangpu River (黄浦江 huángpǔ jiāng), with the older town on the west bank known as Puxi (浦西 pǔ xī) and the brash new development on the east side being Pudong (浦东 pǔdōng).

Areas within Puxi:

• The Bund (外滩 wàitān) - the colonial riverside of old (and reborn) Shanghai, including the Yuyuan Gardens (豫园 yùyuán)
• French Concession - the leafy district once known as the Paris of the East, including the refurbished shikumen houses of Xintiandi
• Xujiahui - Southwest part of Shanghai
• Gubei - Close to the Hongqiao airport, a Carrefour, and with a large expat population
• Nanjing Road - China’s most famous shopping street, leading to People’s Park (人民公园 rénmín gōngyuán) and Jing’an (静安 jìng ān)
• Hongkou (虹口 hóngkǒu) - home of Fudan and Tongji university, plus a park and museum for famed writer Lu Xun.
• Yangpu (杨浦 yángpǔ) - contains the excellent and spacious gongqing forest park (共青森林公园 gòngqīng sēnlín gōngyuán)

and across the river:

• Pudong - the skyscraper-laden new financial and commercial district on the east bank of the river

Outlying districts:

• 嘉定 - Jiādìng
• 青浦 - Qīngpǔ
• 金山 - Jīnshān
• 南汇 - Nánhuì
• 松江 - Sōngjiāng
• 宝山 - Bǎoshān

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Welcome to Shanghai

Shanghai, also named “Hu” or “Shen” in short, is situated at 31″14′ north latitude and 121″29′ east longitude, and in the middle of China’s east coastline. It occupies a total area of 6,341sq.km. (of which Pudong new Area occupies 523sq.km.), with a total resident population of 16,000,000. It has a pleasant climate, with four distinct seasons. The average temperature is around 18oC and the annual precipitation is 1,240mm.

　　Shanghai, an open city on the coast and a famous historical and cultural city, is a gate to the Yangtze River delta. It is a municipality under the direct jurisdiction of the Central Government, the largest economic and trade center, a comprehensive industrial base and the leading port in China.

　　Shanghai is well known in the world not only for its prosperous cosmopolitan feature but also for its rich humanistic resources. In recent years, a number of modem buildings have been added to the city, such as the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Shanghai Museum, Shanghai Library, Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai Grand Theatre, Shanghai Circus City, Shanghai City-Planning Exhibition Hall and Jin Mao Tower, Shanghai Science & Technology Museum. They have become new scenic sights in Shanghai. Colorful festivities, like Shanghai Tourism Festival and Shanghai China International Art Festival, have attracted an increasing number of tourists from home and overseas.

　　Shanghai’s tourist infrastructure is getting more and more accomplished. By the end of 2002, there were 40 international travel services, 524 domestic travel services and 300 star-rated hotels with about 50,000 rooms. Shanghai is an ideal “paradise for shoppers”. There are commercial streets and shopping areas like the famous Nanjing Road Pedestrian Mall, Huaihai Road, Sichuan Bei Road, Yuyuan Commercial and Tourist Area, the Ever Bright Commercial City, Xujiahui Commercial City and Zhangyang Road Commercial City in Pudong. There, shops stand rows upon rows with large collections of beautiful commodities, meeting the needs of tourists of different levels. Shanghai is also the paradise for gourmets. There are over a thousand restaurants serving the 16 different styles of food in China, such as the Beijing, Sichuan, Guangdong, Yangzhou, Fujian, etc. There are Western restaurants serving French, Russian, Italian, English, German, Japanese and Indian food and also Muslim and vegetarian food. In Shanghai, one can have a taste of all the delicacies in the world. Shanghai is well developed in communications by land, water and air. There are over 40 Chinese and foreign air companies opening about 300 air routes dispatching from Shanghai. Shanghai Railway Station dispatches everyday 80 pairs of trains back and forth from Shanghai. There are the Shanghai-Nanjing, Shanghai-Hangzhou-Ningbo Freeways. The Pudong International Airport has opened for traffic. Its annual passenger transport volume will be 20,000,000 person/times. Plus that of the Hongqiao International Airport, it will be 30,000,000 person/times. Subways No.1 and 2 and the light-rail first phase project are in operation. Together with the 10 special tour bus lines connecting Shanghai with neighbouring tourist areas, they will render faster service and more convenience in urban communications to tourists. Recently, the magnetic buoyant train has been opened to the public. It offers travelers a zero height of flight at 430 km/hr.

　　On Dec. 3, 2002, Shanghai succeeded in winning the bid for the sponsorship of World Expo 2010. The world has given China a share of luck and Shanghai will add more splendor to the world Shanghai is ushering in excellent opportunities for development. People of Shanghai warmly welcome visitors from home and overseas.

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Welcome to Beijing

In 2008, when you are at the grand occasion of the Olympic Games with the theme slogan of “One World, One Dream”, you will also find yourselves experiencing the oriental ancient civilization of Beijing.

Beijing was the capital city of the Liao, Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties of China. The largest palace of the world, the Forbidden City, is located on the central axis of Beijing city. Together with the Summer Palace - a royal park, The Great Wall, Beijing Royal Quadrangle Courtyard etc, Beijing has 7300 cultural relics and historical sites, as well as more than 200 scenic spots.

Beijing, the Capital City, is the political, cultural and diplomatic centre of China. It has become a modern international cosmopolitan city with more than 11 million people. The Capital International Airport, 23.5 km from the city centre, is China’s largest and most advanced airport. There are close to 40 five-star hotels in Beijing and the international direct distance dialing can reach 240 countries and regions.

August and September are the end of summer and the beginning of autumn in Beijing, with the highest temperature around 30°C and the lowest temperature around 18°C. This is the best season of the year in Beijing when the sky is blue and clear. The city feels especially spacious and airy when the distant lofty Yanshan Ridge could be seen from the height of the Forbidden City. Beijing can be said to have the charm of antiquity as well as the spirit of modernity indeed.

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Beijing’s History

Some half a million years ago, Peking man lived in Zhoukoudian, in the southwestern suburbs of Beijing. The climate of that time was warmer and more humid than it is today. Forests and lakes in the area supported large numbers of living creatures. The fossil remains of Peking man, his stone tools and evidence of use of fire, as well as later tools of 18,000 years ago, bone needles and article of adornment from the age of Upper Cave Man are the earliest cultural relics on record in China today.

Some four to five thousand years ago, settlements to the southwest of Beijing were thriving on basic agriculture and animal husbandry. Story has it that the legendary Yellow Emperor (Huang Di) battled against the tribal leader Chiyou in the “wilderness of the prefecture of Zhuo.”Zhuolu, a town west of present-day Beijing, is perhaps the site of the first metropolis in the area. Yellow Emperor’s successor, Emperor Yao, was said to have established a legendary capital Youdu (City of Quietude) that was where the city of Ji was actually built.

During the Warring States Period (475 221BC), the Marquis of Yan annexed the territory of the Marquis of Ji, making the city of Ji his new capital. The approximate location was north of Guang’ anmen Gate in present day Beijing near the White Cloud Temple (Baiyunguan).

Early in the third century BC, the first Emperor of Qin (Qin Shi Huang) set about conquering six states and unifying China. The city of Ji was named administrative center of Guangyang Commandery, one of 36 prefectures in China’s first feudal empire. For 10 centuries, through to the end of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), Ji remained a strategic trading and military center and the object of frequent power struggles.

Two emperors during that period — Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty (581-618) and Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty — left their mark on the city. Emperor Yang amassed troops and supplies at Ji for expeditions against Korea. Emperor Taizong also used the city for military training. He built the Temple for Compassion for the Loyal (Minzhongsi), which is dedicated to troops who died in battle. This temple was the precursor of the Temple of the Origin of the Dharma (Fayuansi) located outside the old walls of the city.

At the beginning of the Tang Dynasty, Ji was little different from any other large feudal cities. Several centuries later, however, when the Tang was nearing a state of collapse, the Qidans (Khitans) came from the upper reaches of the Liaohe River and moved south to occupy Ji and make it their second capital. They called the city Nanjing (Southern Capital) or Yanjing. Emperor Taizong of the Liao Dynasty (916-1125) carried out reconstruction projects and built palaces, which were used as strongholds from which the Qidans set out to conquer the central plains of China.

In the early 12th century, the Nuzhen (Jurchen) conquered the Liao and established the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234). In 1153, Wan Yanliang moved the Jin capital from Huiningfu in present day Liaoning Province to Yanjing and renamed it Zhongdu (Central Capital) as a challenge to the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), which had its capital at Lin’an (present day Hangzhou). Before the ascension of Wan Yanliang to the throne, the city of Yanjing had changed little from the Liao period.

The rebuilding of the new city began in 1151 with expansion to the east, west and south. Palaces were constructed on a scale similar to the Northern Song (960-1127) capital at Bianliang (modern Kaifeng), and many of the actual building materials were transported from Bianliang. The new expanded city, with its splendid buildings in the center measured roughly five kilometers in circumference. The registered population of the Imperial Palace in the center measured roughly five kilometers in circumference. The registered population of Zhongdu amounted to 225,592 households, or approximately one million people.

Mongol armies occupied Zhongdu in 1215. At this time, the city of Kaiping (in present day Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region) served as the principal Mongol capital (Shangdu), while Yanjing was given provincial status. It was not until 1271 that Kublai Khan formally adopted the new dynasty’s name — Yuan — and made Yanjing the capital. Kublai Khan rebuilt the city and gave it the Chinese (Han) name of Dadu (Ta-tu) or Great Capital, though in Mongol it was known as Khanbalig (Marco Polo’s Cambaluc), the City of the Great Khan. When the Mongols finally eliminated the Southern Song and unified China, Dadu became the political center of the country for the first time in history.

The construction of Dadu began in 1267 and ended in 1293, extending throughout the entire period of Kublai Khan’s rule. The magnificent palaces of the Jin capital Zhongdu were destroyed by fire during the dynastic turnover from the Jin to the Yuan. When the capital was rebuilt, the original site of Zhongdu was replaced by a larger rectangular area centered in a beautiful lake region in the northeastern suburbs.

The construction of Dadu consisted of three main projects — the imperial palaces, the city walls and moats, and the canal. The first stage was construction of the palace buildings, most of which were completed in 1274. The next stage was construction of the mansions for the imperial princes, the government offices, the Taimiao (Imperial Ancestral Temple) and Shejitan (Altar of Land and Grain) to the east and west of the palace, and a system of streets for ordinary residences. In 1293, the strategic Tonghui Canal, connecting the capital to the Grand Canal, was completed.

As the capital city of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), Dadu enjoyed great fame in the 13th century world. The envoys and traders from Europe, Asia and Africa who paid visits to China were astounded by the splendor and magnificence of Dadu. Marco Polo’s description of the palaces of Cambaluc, as the called Khanbalig, us most famous of all:

“You must know that it is the greatest palace that ever was The roof is very lofty, and the walls of the palace are all covered with gold and silver. They are adorned with dragons, beasts and birds, knights and idols, and other such things The Hall of the Palace is so large that 6,000 people could easily dine there, and it is quite a marvel to see how many rooms there are besides. The building is altogether so vast, so rich and so beautiful, that no man on earth could design anything superior to it. The outside of the roof is all colored with vermilion and yellow and green and blue and other hues, which are fixed with a varnish so fine and exquisite that they shins like crystal, and lend a resplendent luster to the palace as seen for a great way around.”

The new Dadu was a rectangular city more than 30 kilometers in circumference. In the later years of Kublai Khan’s rule, the city population consisted of 100,000 households or roughly 500,000 people. The layout was the result of uniform planning, the broader streets all 24 paces wide, the narrow lanes half this width. The regular chessboard pattern created an impression of relaxed orderliness.

Achievements in stone and plaster sculpture and painting at this time reached great heights. The names of two contemporary artisans have come down to us: the sculptors Yang Qiong and Liu Yuan. The latter was known for the plaster statues he created for temples. Liulansu Lane at the northern end of Fuyou Street in present-day Beijing was named after Liu Yuan.

On August 2, 1368, Ming troops seized Dadu and renamed it Beiping (Northern Peace). Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), however, made Nanjing his first capital. Beginning in 1406, Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty spent 15 years constructing walls 12 meters high and 10 meters thick at their base around the city of Beiping. The construction of palace buildings and gardens began in 1417 and was completed in 1420. The following year, Emperor Yongle formally transferred the capital from Nanjing to Beiping and, for the first time, named the city Beijing (Northern Capital). Extensive reconstruction work was carried out in Beijing during the first years of the Ming Dynasty. The northern city walls were shifted 2.5 kilometers to the south. Evidence of great advances in city planning is the district known as the Inner (Tartar) City. The Outer or Chinese City to the south was built during the reign of Emperor Jiajing (1522-1566), adding to the rectangular city a slightly wider “base” in the south.

When the Manchus founded the Qing Dynasty in 1644, they began to build suburban gardens, the most famous of which was Yuanmingyuan. Construction over the course of an entire century, the imposing columned palaces and open-air pavilions blended with the serenity of well planned gardens to create a masterpiece of garden architecture unrivaled in the history of China.

A city plan was first laid out in the Yuan Dynasty. Yet only after extensive reconstruction during the Ming and Qing (1644-1911), did the city emerge as an architectural masterpiece fit to serve as the capital of the Chinese empire. A north-south axis bisects the city with the Imperial Palace was knows as Danei (The Great Within). In the Ming, it was renamed the Forbidden City (Zijincheng), and more recently it has come to be called the Palace Museum (Gugong Bowuyuan). Designed with thousands of halls and gates arranged symmetrically around a north south axis, its dimensions and luxuriance are a fitting symbol of the power and greatness of traditional China.

After the collapse of the Qing Dynasty in 1911, China fell prey to the Northern Warlords and Kuomintang, Beijing suffered the same fate as the rest of China, hobbling along like an old camel without a sense of direction. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army formally entered Beijing on January 31, 1949, opening a new chapter in the long history of the city. It was in Tian’anmen Square on October 1st, 1949, that Chairman Mao Zedong proclaimed the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, with Beijing as its capital.

The city has changed totally since then. It has expanded from its old confines within the nine gates of the Inner City wall (Zhengyangmen, Chongwenmen, Xuanwumen, Chaoyangmen, Dongzhimen, Fuchengmen, Xizhimen, Andingmen and Deshengmen) to the seven outer gates (Dongbianmen, Guangqumen, Xibianmen, Guang’ anmen, Yongdingmen, Zuoanmen and Youanmen) and out into the suburbs, Beijing now covers an area of about 750 square kilometers, which includes a dozen new living districts built on the outskirts of town.

Tian’anmen Square is still the center of Beijing, Chang’ an Boulevard now running 38 kilometers from Shijingshan in the west to Tongxian in the east. The palaces and city towers along both sides have been designated cultural relics for national protection. Former imperial residences and gardens have been opened for public viewing.

New buildings like the International Post Office and Bank of China have been built along the Second Ring Road, the former line of the Inner City wall. Old living quarters and blocks of traditional Beijing style buildings, such as Liulichang Culture Street, have been restored. Large scale construction has been undertaken along the Third Ring Road and the fourth Ring Road.

Future development in Beijing will continue to preserve the symmetry of the old city layout while integrating modern architectural design into the over all plan.

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Where is Beijing

Just where exactly is Beijing anyway? So many foreign tourists and business people come to Beijing with no real idea of where they are, or how big the country is.  This page will help you get your bearings.

Map courtesy of CIA World Factbook

Beijing is situated towards the north east corner of China.  The map above is of northern Asia with China being the light colored un-marked area.  If you have no idea where the area above is located in the world, we suggest you visit worldatlas.com where you can locate the Asia region.

Beijing China city facts

Population:    approx 16,000,000 fluctuating daily

Distances to other cities in China and nearby countries

Data provided by timeanddate.com - click to see time and telephone information about the city

City in China

This content was originally published by Beijing Travel Tips andis reproduced here with kind permission. 
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