| Beijing is the capital city of the People's Republic of China, and is recognized as the country's political, educational, and cultural center. Governed as a municipality under direct administration of the central government, Beijing borders Hebei Province to the north, west, south, and for a small section in the east, and Tianjin Municipality to the southeast. The population of Beijing amounts to more than 17 million. The city is divided into 16 urban and suburban districts and two rural counties. Few cities in the world besides Beijing have served as the political and cultural centre of an area as immense as China for so long. The Encyclopedia Britannica describes Beijing as "one of the world's great cities". |
北京简称京，是中国的首都，全国政治、经济、文化、科研、教育和国际交往的枢纽。北京位于华北平原北端，东南局部地区与天津市相连，其余为河北省所环绕。全市面积一万六千多平方公里，辖16区，人口1700余万。北京有着3000余年的建城史和850余年的建都史，是全球拥有世界文化遗产最多的城市，同时也是历史文化名城和中国八大古都之一。全球只有极少数城市像北京一样长时间作为一个国家的政治和文化中心。《不列颠百科全书》将北京形容为"One of the world's great cities"。 |
