Beijing

Beijing is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is china's 2nd largest city, after Shanghai. The metropolis is recognised as the political, educational, and cultural centre of the People's Republic of China. It is one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China. The city has had several names throughout history, such as Zhongdu, Dadu, Khanbaliq, Shuntian, and Peiping.
The People's Republic of China, (PRC), is an authoritarian state in which, as specified in its Constitution, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP or Party) is the paramount source of power. Party members hold almost all top government, police, and military positions. Ultimate authority rests with the 24-member political bureau (Politburo) of the CCP and its 9-member standing committee. Leaders made a top priority of maintaining stability and social order and were committed to perpetuating the rule of the CCP. Citizens lacked the freedom to express opposition to the Party-led political system and the right to change their national leaders or form of government. Socialism continued to provide the theoretical underpinning of national politics, but Marxist economic planning has given way to pragmatism, and economic decentralization has increased the authority of local officials. The Party's authority rested primarily on the Government's ability to maintain social stability; appeals to nationalism and patriotism; Party control of personnel, media, and the security apparatus; and continued improvement in the living standards of most of the country's 1.3 billion citizens. The Constitution provides for an independent judiciary; however, in practice, the Government and the CCP, at both the central and local levels, frequently interfered in the judicial process and directed verdicts in many cases.

The security apparatus is made up of the Ministries of State Security and Public Security, the People's Armed Police, the People's Liberation Army (PLA), and the state judicial, procuratorial, and penal systems. Civilian authorities generally maintained effective control of the security forces. Security policy and personnel were responsible for numerous human rights abuses.

It has been China's capital almost continuously since 1272. It was given its name in the early 1400s and became the official capital of China. The Communist Party took over the capital in 1949. The city walls were dismantled in 1965-1969. In the 1980s, it was transformed into a modern cultural centre.

The Beijing Municipality has an area of 16,801 square kilometres and has a population of 17,430,000, with 8,500,000 living in the urban core.

Its attractions include the Forbidden City complex, the Temple of Heaven, Beihai Park, and Summer Palace.

In 2008 Beijing was the host city of the XXIX Summer Olympic Games.
Several new stadiums and arenas, subway extensions, and a new terminal at the Capital Airport were constructed for the occasion.

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