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beijing: general info
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BEIJING
Calling Code: +54
China's capital and second largest city (after Shanghai) is Beijing, located in the country's northeastern region. About
12 million people live in Beijing, which is China's political, cultural and educational center. The city is undergoing rapid
modernization, with older buildings being replaced by new ones, and a burgeoning population of young people more interested in cell
phones, designer knock-off clothing and MTV than in traditional ways.
As Beijing grew in size and population, the many tiny villages that once surrounded it have been absorbed and have become
neighborhoods within the greater municipality. Beijing's international airport is 26 kilometers north of the city, and there are
also trains and long-distance buses available for those who prefer surface travel. By far the fastest way to travel within the
city is via subway, which is known locally as the Underground Dragon.
Tiantan Park was a place of ritual and ceremony for the emperors and today functions as a popular early-morning gathering place for
Beijing residents. Chief among its classic Ming buildings is the Temple of Heaven, for which the park was named. This gorgeous
structure, built in 1420, is surrounded by the Echo Wall, also known as "The Whispering Wall." The eaves and closely laid bricks of
this wall allow two people standing very far apart to hear each other clearly when speaking in normal tones. A similar acoustic
effect is possible in the white marble Altar of Heaven, whose upper terrace amplifies the voice of anyone standing in its center.
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