Beijing, historically romanized as Peking, is China’s capital and the world’s most populous national capital with over 22 million residents. It is the second-largest city in China after Shanghai, located in Northern China and governed directly by the State Council. Beijing borders Hebei Province and neighbors Tianjin to the southeast, together forming the Jing-Jin-Ji economic region. Ranked as a leading global city, Beijing is a center for culture, politics, finance, education, research, and technology. It hosts the headquarters of China’s largest state-owned enterprises and has the highest concentration of Fortune Global 500 companies in the world. The city is also a hub for China’s extensive transportation networks, including highways, railways, and the Beijing Capital International Airport, which was Asia’s busiest airport before the COVID-19 pandemic. Beijing Daxing International Airport, the city’s second international airport, is the largest single-structure terminal in the world. Beijing’s history spans over three millennia, making it one of the oldest cities globally. It was the political center of China for most of the past 800 years, also serving as the imperial capital, strategically positioned with mountains on three sides. The city showcases a blend of modern and traditional architecture, with historic hutong districts and modernized areas. As one of China’s Four Great Ancient Capitals, Beijing was the world’s largest city by population through much of the second millennium. Beijing has hosted significant international events, including the 2008 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, and in 2022 became the first city to host both the Summer and Winter Olympics and Paralympics. Its rich cultural heritage includes eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Ming Tombs, Zhoukoudian, Beijing Central Axis, and sections of the Great Wall and Grand Canal. These sites, along with the city’s traditional siheyuan residences and narrow hutongs, draw millions of tourists annually, making Beijing one of the world’s top-earning tourist destinations.