Beijing, a booming and bustling city in a rapidly developing nation, is the political, cultural, and educational center of China. This “Capital of a thousand years” is home to over 12 million people and offers an unparalleled level of energy, day and night. Beijing is one of the most historically significant places in China; visitors have easy access to such well-known sites as the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, Mao’s Mausoleum, and the Great Wall of China, and can view the ice lantern shows during the colder months.
Despite its size, Beijing is easy to navigate. In preparation for the 2008 summer Olympic Games, the city was made even more user-friendly to visitors. As a result, most signs are written in Chinese characters and pinyin (the most common Romanization for Mandarin), and many are in English. The city is a major transportation hub and offers travelers dozens of railways, expressways and roads entering and leaving in all directions, and has an airport for those who wish to travel around the country on a larger scale. Beijing’s modes of transportation will allow you to explore both the city and the country of China with ease!