Beijing, the capital of the People's Republic of China, is a city with a long history and modern global significance. Located in northern China, it is bordered by Hebei Province and Tianjin Municipality. The city covers an area of 16,410.54 square kilometres.
As of 2024, Beijing’s population was 18,960,744, making it the second-largest city in China. The city is divided into 16 districts, including urban, suburban, and rural areas. Chaoyang District, in the eastern part of Beijing, is home to many foreign embassies and the city's Central Business District.
Beijing has been China’s political centre for centuries and served as the capital during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. It is known for its historical landmarks, including the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace, and parts of the Great Wall. The city has seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Today, Beijing is a global centre for politics, finance, education, and technology. It hosts many of China’s largest companies and has one of the world's busiest airports. Despite modernisation, traditional areas such as hutongs and siheyuans preserve Beijing’s historical culture, blending the past with the present.
Beijing, the capital of China, is administered directly by the central government. It is one of the four municipal-level regions, alongside Shanghai, Tianjin, and Chongqing, which are not part of any province. The city's administrative structure includes several levels of government, with the local government being headed by the Mayor and the Municipal People's Congress. The mayor is elected by the People's Congress, and the municipal government oversees various departments, such as education, health, and transport.
The Communist Party of China (CPC) has a strong presence in Beijing's administration, with the Beijing Municipal Party Committee leading the city's development and policy decisions. The city's administrative divisions consist of 16 districts and two rural counties. These districts are further subdivided into neighborhoods and townships, each with local governance structures.
The Beijing Municipal People's Congress is responsible for making local laws and regulations, while the Municipal People's Government executes policies and manages day-to-day affairs. Local law enforcement and public safety are managed by the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau, and the city's judiciary operates under the Supreme People's Court of China. The city has substantial influence on national political and economic decisions, housing numerous governmental offices, foreign embassies, and cultural institutions.
Beijing, the capital of China, has a robust and diverse economy. In 2024, the city's regional gross domestic product (GDP) exceeded $699.88 billion, marking a 5.2% year-on-year increase.
The city's economy is primarily driven by the tertiary sector, which includes services such as finance, technology, and education. This sector accounts for 83.8% of Beijing's economic output. The secondary sector, encompassing manufacturing and construction, contributes 15.8%, while the primary sector, including agriculture and mining, makes up 0.26%.
Beijing is a significant hub for multinational corporations, hosting 252 regional headquarters and 149 foreign-funded research and development centres. In the first eight months of 2024, these R&D centres invested 13.77 billion yuan ($1.92 billion) in research and development, a 29.9% increase from the previous year.
The city is also a leader in scientific research, consistently ranking first in the Nature Index for scientific research output since 2016.
In terms of GDP, Beijing ranks second among Chinese cities, following Shanghai. In 2024, Beijing's GDP was approximately $699.88 billion, while Shanghai's was about $757.22 billion.
The city's economy is supported by major industries such as telecommunications, information technology, finance, and real estate. Beijing's Central Business District (CBD) serves as the primary area for finance, media, and business services, housing numerous multinational corporations.
Beijing's business environment has undergone significant reforms to enhance its appeal to both domestic and international investors. Since 2018, the city has introduced multiple versions of reform plans, from 1.0 to 6.0, aimed at streamlining business operations and fostering a more conducive environment for enterprises.
In December 2024, Beijing further solidified its status as a hub for foreign investment by implementing measures to optimise its business environment. The city is home to 252 regional headquarters of multinational companies and 149 foreign-funded research and development centres. In the first eight months of 2024, 121 major foreign-funded R&D centres in Beijing invested 13.77 billion yuan (approximately 1.92 billion USD) in research and development, marking a 29.9% increase year on year.
Beijing's economy is diverse, with the tertiary sector (services) generating 83.8% of output, followed by the secondary sector (manufacturing, construction) at 15.8%, and the primary sector (agriculture, mining) at 0.26%.
The city hosts 54 Fortune Global 500 companies, more than any other city worldwide. Additionally, Beijing has been described as the "billionaire capital of the world," reflecting its significant concentration of wealth.
The Beijing Central Business District (CBD) serves as the primary area for finance, media, and business services in the city. It occupies 3.99 km² of the Chaoyang District and is home to numerous multinational corporations.
In August 2024, China's National Development and Reform Commission unveiled a three-year action plan to create a first-class business environment in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. The plan focuses on standardising business regulations, enhancing regional integration, and promoting innovation in key industries.
As the capital city of China, Beijing is not only the nation’s political, cultural, scientific and educational center, but also one of the leading growth machines in the country. The city has experienced double-digit growth in its gross domestic product (GDP) for at least the last decade, and government revenues have increased at rates between 18 and 30 percent in recent years.
Real estate has been one of the most important sectors of economic growth since the mid-1990s, with public and private investment leading to improved urban infrastructure, intense demands for housing and increased land consumption.
This rapid growth has fundamentally changed the physical pattern of the city, both in the existing built-up central areas and throughout the municipal region. At this time of transformation from a planned economy to a market economy, Chinese urban planners are reviewing the existing planning methodology and urban systems.
Zhongguancun in Haidian District, Beijing, is often referred to as China’s equivalent to Silicon Valley, thanks to its heritage as an innovation hub, encompassing the country’s top two universities and a number of incubation centers for startups. Established 30 years ago, the area is the birthplace for some of the country’s well-known technology firms and home to many international players’ China headquarters.
Today, Zhongguancun has about 9,000 hi-tech companies, including Chinese search engine and artificial intelligence champion Baidu, social media giant Sina Corp, as well as regional headquarters for global giants like Microsoft and Google. Nearly half of the country’s 70 unicorns are located in the area.
The Chinese government is taking further steps to remove foreign technology from state agencies and other organizations, a clear sign of determination for more independence amid escalating tensions with the U.S. Beijing will likely replace as many as 20 million computers at government agencies with domestic products over the next three years, according to research from China Securities.
More than 100 trial projects for domestic products were completed in July, the brokerage firm said. The Financial Times newspaper said the Communist Party’s Central Office earlier this year ordered state offices and public institutions to shift away from foreign hardware and software.
