Beijing's is the capital of China and its roots go back more then 3000 years as the walled capital of the Ji state during
the Shang Dynasty. The city got its present name as Northern Capital of the Ming in 1403.
Kublai Kahn made the place
capital of his Mongol Yuan Dynasty in 1271 and, except for a few interruptions, Beijing has been the capital of China ever since.
Presently this
mega-city is home to about 20 million people, some of them still live in the old Hutong houses.
The many ancient
buildings and monuments in and around Beijing are a vivid testimony to the city's rich and long history.
The Forbidden
City and the Temple of Heaven date back to early Ming times. and have since been used by emperors till the end of the Qing Dynasty
in 1912.
Tiananmen Square was build in 1651 and from 1976 onwards houses the Mao Zedong Mausoleum, with the balmed
remains of the "Great Helmsman" on display.
A range of futuristc looking venues were build for the Olympic Games in 2008, like
the Bird's Nest.
Beijing has many towering skyscrapers that dominate the city's skyline.
Air pollution from dust storms, heating
by coal and car exhausts is becoming a real problem and the city government is taking draconic measures to combat this pollution.
