Beijing is the capital of the People's Republic of China and it is China's political and cultural center. It covers an area of 16,808 square kilometers and has a population of over 11 million, among which urban dwellers amount to 73.1 percent.   Beijing is located on the west coast of the Pacific, stands at the northern tip of the North China plain. It is situated at 3956 north latitude and

Great Wall of China at Badaling section   Only a 70 km (44 miles) drive from Beijing, Badaling is the most visited section of the Great Wall. Constructed during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Badaling underwent extensive reconstruction during the 1950s and 1980s and now features amenities that invading barbarians would certainly kill for, from cablecar rides to snack stands, caged bears, sou

Air Beijing's Capital International Airport lies 30 km (18.6 miles) northeast of the city center (a 45 minute car ride without much traffic). Reach the airport by taxi or airport bus (RMB 16) from the Xidan Civil Aviation Mansion, the Art Gallery, the entrance of Beijing Railway Station and the Princess Tomb. The trip from airport to the center runs about RMB 100.   Train   Beijing

Beijing Duck   Beijing Roast Duck is the epitome of Beijing cuisine and is well known both at home and abroad.The dish is mostly prized for the thin, crispy skin, with authentic versions of the dish serving mostly the skin and little meat.   Mongolian Hot Pot   Next to Beijing Roast Duck, Mongolian Hot Pot is another great example of traditional Beijing cooking.The slices of

Long a place for artists and craftspeople to hone their skills and for traders to ply their wares, Beijing remains a wonderful place to find art, antiques, and handicrafts—as well as the bounty of modern China's churning factories. Shops and markets hold a wealth of Chinese calligraphy, paintings, carpets, embroidered silk, jewelry, stone chops, Chinese musical instruments, furniture and Mao memor