Beijing (北京 Běijīng) is the capital of the most populous country in the world, the People's Republic of China. It was also the seat of the Ming and Qing dynasty emperors until the formation of a republic in 1911. As such it is rich in historical sites and important government institutions.

The city is well known for its flatness and regular construction. There is only one hill to be found in the city limits (in Jingshan Park to the north of the famous Forbidden City). Like the configuration of the Forbidden City, Beijing has concentric "ring roads", which are actually rectangular, that go around the metropolis.

Much of city is presently in upheaval as infrastructure is being frenetically constructed and sights are being renovated for the Olympics; the best time to visit as a tourist will thus probably be right after them or during the Olympics if you are lucky enough to get the tickets.

Administrative Divisions

Beijing has a total of 16 districts and 2 counties.

Districts

8 districts are close to the city centre:

Dongcheng District (东城区 Dōngchéng Qū)

Xicheng District (西城区 Xīchéng Qū)

Chongwen District (崇文区 Chóngwén Qū)

Xuanwu District (宣武区 Xuānwǔ Qū)

Chaoyang District (朝阳区 Cháoyáng Qū)

Haidian District (海淀区 Hǎidiàn Qū) Home of 'China's Silicon Valley' Zhongguancun (中关村 Zhōngguāncūn) and 39 universities including Peking, Tsinghua and Renmin Universities

Fengtai District (丰台区 Fēngtái Qū )

Shijingshan District (石景山区 Shíjǐngshān Qū)

  The other 8 districts are further afield:

Mentougou District (门头沟区 Méntóugōu Qū)

Fangshan District (房山区 Fángshān Qū)

Tongzhou District (通州区 Tōngzhōu Qū)

Shunyi District (顺义区 Shùnyì Qū)

Changping District (昌平区 Chāngpíng Qū)

Daxing District (大兴区 Dàxīng Qū)

Pinggu District (平谷区 Pínggǔ Qū)

Huairou District (怀柔区 Huáiróu Qū)

Except for Mentougou, all of these eight districts switched from being counties to districts from 1988 to 2001.

Counties

The two counties lie very far from central Beijing:

Yanqing County (延庆县 Yánqìng Xiàn)

Miyun County (密云县 Mìyún Xiàn)