Beijing, China

Why go


• Impressive man-made palaces such as the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven
• Olympic Park
• Opera houses
• The ubiquitous siheyuan communities in Old China
• Contemporary Chinese art galleries and Western-style cafes at the Dashanzi District.


What you need to know


Climate: Humid continental climate
Area: Municipality–16,801.25 sq km
Population: Municipality 17,430,000, Metro–11,940,000
Major ethnic groups: Han (96%), Manchu (2%), Hui (2%), Mongolian (0.3%)
Regional dialect: Beijing, which forms the foundation of Standard Mandarin
Postal code: 100000-102629
Area code: 10


Did you know that…the Beijing opera is considered the highest achievement of Chinese culture?


Where to stay


To find the best hotels in Beijing see the Visiting China special feature on Beijing Hotels.