Beijing, which is also abbreviated as "Jing," is the capital of the People's Republic of China. The political and cultural center of the country, it is also one of the international communication hubs of China. Beijing is located at 39056' N and 116020' E, on the northwest edge of the North China Plain, adjoining Tianjin City to its east and Hebei Province to its north, west and south. The Bohai Sea lies about 150 km to its southeast. Beijing has 16 districts and two counties under its jurisdiction, covering an area of 16,807.8 square kilometers, including 87.1 square kilometers of urban area.
 
Major Scenic Spots

Tian'anmen Gate
Tian'anmen Gate, or the Gate of the Heavenly Peace, bounds the northern end of the  square in the center of city proper. It was first built in the 15th year of the Ming  Emperor Yongle (1417 A.D) as the main gate leading to the Forbidden city in the Ming and  Qing Dynasties. Tian'anmen Gate is the symbol (emblem) of New China.

The Great Hall of the People
The Great Hall of the People flanks the western side of Tian'anmen Square (If you stand  with your back to Tian'anmen Gate it is on the right-hand side of the square.).  Constructed in 1959, it's over 40 meters high, with a floor space of 171800 square  meters, when it is in session. The Great Hall has numerous conference rooms, banquet  halls, and reception areas, many of vast size: the major conference hall accommodates  10000 people and the huge banquet hall can seat 5000.

 Monument to the People's Heroes
 The Monument to the People's Heroes is in the center of Tian'anmen Square. The late Chairman Mao Zedong laid the cornerstone (foundation stone) himself on September 30, 1949. The construction began in August, 1951 and it was erected in April, 1958. The granite obelisk rises 37.94 meters. The gilded inscription on the north face is in Chairman Mao's calligraphy and reads:" The People's Heroes Are Immortal." The base of the obelisk is decorated with bar-relief carvings depicting major events of the revolution.

Summer Palace (Yihe Yuan)
Yihe Yuan (the Garden of Peaceful Easy Life) on the northwestern outskirts of Beijing was an imperial summer resort of the Qing Dynasty. A large - scale expansion project started here in 1750 and was completed in 15 years.Composed of Kunming Hu (Kunming Lake) and Wanshou Shan (Longevity Hill), the palace occupies an ares of 290 hectares, three quarters of which are covered by water. With its perfect layout, magnificent buildings and enchanting landscape, the Summer Palace is the most splendid classical garden in China.