Participated Cities：Beijing

“Beijing City Master Plan (2004-2020)”defines the city of Beijing as the capital of the People’s Republic of China, the national political and cultural center, world-famous ancient capital and modern international city. The goal of Beijing is to develop the national capital into a “livable city.”

Beijing, the capital of the People’s Republic of China, has a construction history of over 3000 years; and a history of being the capital for more than 850 years. Beijing is also one of most famous historical and cultural cities, and ancient capitals in the world. Beijing used to be the imperial city during the Liao, Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. The People’s Republic of China was founded on October 1, 1949. Since then, Beijing has become the capital of New China.

Beijing has a large number of cultural relics, some of which are listed as world cultural heritage by the United Nations; including, Forbidden City, the Great Wall, ape-man site at Zhoukoudian, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, and Ming Tombs. By the end of 2011, the whole city had 162 museums, in which the collection of cultural relics added up to 4.3 million pieces, and the number of visitors reached 35 million.

Beijing is a mix of ancient modern. The garden sites, ancient temples and imperial mausoleums inject a profound historical connotation into Beijing. Numerous talented individuals, cultural relics, and former residences solidify the essence of Chinese art and culture. While steep cliffs, winding rivers, beautiful springs, and plunging waterfalls put on a layer of mysterious veil for the suburb. The busy pedestrian streets and star-studded commercial areas add new vitality of the era to this old city.

Today’s Beijing has further developed into a modern international metropolis. Financial Street has long been the veritable financial management center of China; Beijing Central Business District has specially become the symbol of Beijing’s openness to the outside world and economic strength. In addition, China National Grand Theater, Beijing Capital International Airport Terminal 3, China Central Television headquarters, “Bird’s Nest” and “Water Cube” have become the modern symbols of new Beijing.