Hot Links & Contacts
Beijing Govt.:
http://www.ebeijing.gov.cn/

Beijing International:
http://www.bjinvest.gov.cn/english/

China Tourism:
http://www.cnto.org/beijing.asp

General Info:
http://beijing.mychinastart.com/

Police:	110
Fire Department:	119
Ambulance:	120
Tourist Hotline:	6513-0828
Local directory assistance:	114 (Chinese); 2689-0114 (English)
International directory assistance:	100
MasterCard (lost or stolen):	10-800-110-7309
Visa (lost or stolen):	10-800-110-2911

Overview
Beijing means 'Northern Capital' and the name speaks for itself. It is indeed the capital of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and thus is the nation's political, economic, culture and education center. This very modern and exceedingly busy metropolis is also the heart of international trade and communications of China. Consequently, the city is also home to many global fairs and expositions held at its range of trade show venues.

Beijing is a city of million moods and thousand faces. It is as much a city of laptops, glitzy discos and high-rise buildings as of lavish palaces, serene gardens and old temples. The city is said to be always buzzing with cranes on the skyline as construction projects give rise to new skyscrapers. Once known for its flatness, Beijing today is proceeding rapidly towards modernization with its regular construction activities.

A major transportation hub with dozens of railways, roads and expressways, the Capital is known for numerous concentric ‘ring roads’ spread all around the metropolis, which are actually rectangular.

Throughout its long history, Beijing has been the heart of Chinese politics and society and thus, naturally the city has unparalleled wealth of discovery and heritage. Besides having the most famous and convenient points for visiting The Great Wall, the city is also encompasses numerous UNESCO-endorsed World Cultural Heritage Sites.

Therefore, Beijing has come a long way from the dusty communist capital of the 70s-80s to a modern city with high rising buildings, shopping malls, hotel and restaurants. It may not yet be able come at the level of Hong Kong or Shanghai, but in its chase to 2008 Olympics, it is trying real hard and doing real well.