Location of Beijing

Beijing is located on the west coast of Pacific, Beijing stands at the northern tip of North China Plain. Tian'anmen Square in the center of Beijing is situated at 39^O56' North Latitude and 116^O20' East Longitude.

It lies at approximately the same latitude as Philadelphia in the U.S. and Madrid in Spain. Greater Beijing has an area of 16,808 square km, and a population of 11 million, about half of which live on the outskirt. The city is 39% flat land and 61% mountainous area.

Beijing is surrounded by the Yanshan Mountains on the west, north and east while the small alluvial plain of the Yongding River lies to its southeast. Beijing stands on this terrain and faces the Bohai Sea, which is also called the Beijing Bay.

In China, Beijing is one of the three mega - cities under the direct jurisdiction of the central government, and it is dividedinto 10 districts and 8 counties.

Beijing enjoys a moderate continental climate. The average yearly rainfall is about 600 to 700 millimetres. Much of it falls in late June, July and August. Spring in Beijing is dry and dusty, summer rainy, winter long, sunny and dry. The best season in Beijing, as in many other parts of China, is autumn.