Beijing is the capital of the People's Republic of
China and one of the most populous cities in the world. The
population as of 2010 was 19,612,368. The metropolis, located in
northern China, is governed as a direct-controlled municipality
under the national government, with 14 urban and suburban
districts and two rural counties. Beijing Municipality is
surrounded by Hebei Province with the exception of neighboring
Tianjin Municipality to the southeast.Beijing is the second
largest Chinese city by urban population after Shanghai and is
the nation's political, cultural, and educational center. It is
home to the headquarters of most of China's largest state-owned
companies, and is a major hub for the national highway,
expressway, railway, and high-speed rail networks. The city's
history dates back three millenia. As the last of the Four Great
Ancient Capitals of China, Beijing has been the political center
of the country for much of the past seven centuries. The city is
renowned for its opulent palaces, temples, gardens, tombs, walls
and gates, and its art treasures and universities have made it a
center of culture and art in China. Few cities in the world have
been the political and cultural center of an area as immense for
so long.
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