Introduction of Beijing

Beijing is at the heart of the most highly populated nation on Earth. The city has been China's capital since 1406 when the Emperor Yongle of the Ming dynasty used the city as a northern base against the encroaching Mongols. He was responsible for the building of the imposing Forbidden City fourteen years later, made world famous by Bertolucci's film, the 'Last Emperor'. The entire empire was ruled from these 200 acres of palaces and temples until the 1911 Chinese Revolution. Beijing's modern buildings are equally impressive, such as the Great Hall of the People and Mao's Mausoleum, built in 1976.

Beijing is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is the center of politics, culture and international exchanges and a modern metropolis full of vitality. The world's earliest description of Beijing came in the travel notes of Marco Polo, the young Italian traveler, in the 13th century. His observations of people's civilized and well-to-do life in Beijing and his admiration for the beauty of the city have for hundreds of years induced the reverie of numerous people about this ancient capital of civilization in the East.

Beijing also attracts world attention with its growing prosperity, and its closer links with world affairs. Through more than 40 years of construction, Beijing has changed from a consumer-city to a major city with various industries. Beijing ranks second among the top 50 cities in China in terms of comprehensive power, and is the first among the 40 best cities in China in terms of investment environment.