China's capital for most of the last 800 years and the country's political and academic centre, with more of the universities on this site than any other city. Wide boulevards and modern districts sit next to imperial palaces and quiet hutong lanes.
Climate
Four distinct seasons: hot, rainy summers and cold, dry, windy winters that are often below freezing. Spring and autumn are short, and autumn is the most pleasant time of year.
Local language
Mandarin, spoken with the Beijing accent and its characteristic 'r' endings (儿化音).
Food to try
Photo: Mr Wabu · CC BY-SA 2.0 Peking roast duck 北京烤鸭
Crisp-skinned roast duck, carved at the table and wrapped in thin pancakes with scallion, cucumber and sweet bean sauce.
Photo: N509FZ · CC BY-SA 4.0 Zhajiangmian 炸酱面
Thick wheat noodles with a savoury sauce of fried soybean paste and pork, topped with fresh shredded vegetables.
Photo: Jmps2016 · CC BY-SA 4.0 Jianbing 煎饼
The classic street breakfast: a thin crepe cooked with egg and folded around a crisp cracker, scallion and sauces.
Sights
Photo: Marcin Białek · CC BY-SA 4.0 The Forbidden City 故宫
The imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties, now the Palace Museum. Tickets must be booked online in advance, and it is closed on Mondays.
Photo: Velatrix · CC0 The Great Wall 长城
Sections such as Badaling and Mutianyu are within two hours of the city; Mutianyu is greener and usually less crowded.
Photo: Fong Chen · Public domain Temple of Heaven 天坛
Where emperors prayed for good harvests. In the park around it, local residents dance, sing and play cards every morning.
Photo: xiquinhosilva · CC BY 2.0 Summer Palace 颐和园
A vast imperial garden around Kunming Lake in the north-west, close to the university district of Haidian.
Culture
Hutongs and courtyard houses 胡同与四合院
Narrow lanes of single-storey courtyard homes around the old city. Many are still lived in; Nanluoguxiang and Shichahai are easy places to explore them.
Peking opera 京剧
China's best-known opera form, with painted faces, acrobatics and stylised singing. Several theatres stage shorter shows for first-time visitors.
