About Beijing

Beijing is one of the most ancient cities in China and has been the focal point of politics and society throughout the years, consequently intriguing travellers with its wealth and diversity. The capital of the People's Republic of China and located in northern China, partially surrounded by the Hebei Province. Beijing is now a fashionable and modern city proved by it's excellent hosting of the 2008 Olympic Games. However, the authentic city of Beijing is not lost, as visitors can explore the famous Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and Summer Palace as well as many Chinese tea houses, temples, Hutong and experience Chinese opera and go hunting for treasures at the silk and pearl markets.

Population
The population of Beijing is 17 million

Time
Seven hours ahead of GMT and 13 hours ahead of US Pacific Standard Time.

Currency
The official currency in China is the Renminbi (RMB or CNY) or in Chinese "Ren-min-bi". The basic unit is the yuan (also known as "kuai").

PeopleMost of Beijing's residents belong to the Han Chinese majority. Other ethnic minorities include the Manchu, Hui, and Mongol. A sizable international community exists in Beijing, many attracted by the fast growing foreign business and trade sector and others by the traditional and modern culture of the city.

Language
People native to urban Beijing speak the Beijing dialect, which belongs to the Mandarin subdivision of spoken Chinese. Beijing dialect is the basis for standard Mandarin, the language used in mainland China, Taiwan, and Singapore.

Climate
Average daytime high temperatures in January are at around 1°C (33°F), while average temperatures in July are around 30°C (87°F). The highest temperature ever recorded was 42°C and the lowest recorded was -27°C.

Government
Municipal government is regulated by the local Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in issuing administrative orders, collecting taxes, and operating the economy. The local party authority is headed by the Beijing CPC Secretary.

Religion
China has maintained what must rank among the world's most eclectic collection of religious traditions, encompassing not only native belief systems such as Confucianism and Daoism, but Buddhism, Islam, and several strains of Christianity as well.

Economic Profile
Beijing is amongst the most developed cities in China with tertiary industry accounting for 73.2% of its GDP; it was the first post-industrial city in mainland China. Finance is one of the most important industries of Beijing.

Contacts

For Conference Sponsorship Contact:
Andrew Hazell
Event Director
E-mail: andrewh@airportconference.com
Direct line: +44 (0) 208 831 7518