Beijing

Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:20090528_Beijing_Forbidden_City_7745.jpg
Author: Jakub Halun


Beijing is the capital and second largest city in China. Comprising 16 district and 2 counties, it covers 16,801.25 sq km (6,487 sq mi) and has a population of 19.6 million people. The city is situated in northern China. It is surrounded by mountains on the north, northwest and western part, separating it from the barren desert steppes. Major waterways in Beijing include the Yongding River, Chaobai River and the Grand Canal, which links Beijing with Hangzhou.

Beijing experiences a humid continental climate with hot, humid summers and cold, dry winters. July is the hottest month here, with average high temperatures of 30.9°C (87.6°F), while January is the coldest month, with average low temperatures of -8.4°C (16.9°F). July is also the wettest month, receiving 185.2 mm (7.3 in) of precipitation.

Beijing is prone to smog, the result of bad air quality cause by polluting industries from the surrounding region. The city took on drastic steps to improve its air quality in the run-up to the 2008 Summer Olympics, including closing some gas stations, limiting traffic on the road and so on. It resulted in the best air quality in a decade, though still high by international standards. The city still suffers from smog quite frequently.

Beijing Financial Street