Beijing
Fun Facts
BeijingCountry: China
Beijing By The Numbers:
Population: 15 million
Elevation: 55 meters/ 180 feet
Annual Rainfall: 890 millimeters/ 34.7 inches
Average Winter Temperature: -3 degrees C/ 27 degrees F
Average Summer Temperature: 26 degrees C/ 79 degrees F
Quick Facts:
Ethnic Mix: Han Chinese (92%), Other (8%).
Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz; two-pin plugs are standard
Time Zone: GMT+ 8
Country Code: +86
Area Code: 010
Did You Know?
The Guard Towers along the outer walls of the Forbidden City are said to be modeled after cricket cages.
Mao's Mausoleum, which houses the preserved body of Chairman Mao a la Lenin style, also contains an exact replica of the Great Helmsman's corpse made entirely of wax. It is unknown whether the wax or real body is on display at any given time.
Jing Shan Park, across the street from the Palace Museum, is the location of the end of the Ming Dynasty. With rebellion threatening at the gates of Tiananmen and the emperess having already hanged herself, the last emperor of the Ming escaped to his pleasure grounds and hanged himself. The particular tree where his body was found is marked.
The last emperor of the Qing Puyi was allowed to continue living in the Forbidden City until evicted by the Jwarlord Feng Yuxiang in 1924.
The marble boat in the Summer Palace was built to Empress Dowager Cixi's specification with 30 million taels of silver designated for China's navy, desperately in need of improvement.
During the Cultural Revolution, Red Guard youths dismantled most of the old city walls to harvest the bricks. The pavement stones of the first courtyard inside Tiananmen Gate received similar treatment.
Orientation:
Beijing is situated in the northeastern sector of China and comprises an area of over 50 miles/80 kilometers. At the center of the city is the Forbidden City, which is surrounded by a series of "ringed" districts. Currently there are 6 ring roads around Beijing.
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