Beijing Geography

Beijing is located at the northern tip of North China Plain, the city lies at approximately the same latitude as Philadelphia in the U.S. and Madrid, Spain. Mountainous along the north and west, and flat in the southeast, Beijing has a total area of 16,800 square kilometers, roughly the size of Belgium.

The city is surrounded on the west, north and east by the Yanshan Mountains. The small alluvial plain of the Yongding River lies to its southeast. Beijing faces the Bohai Sea, which is also called the Beijing Bay. The city is 39% flat land and 61% mountainous area. The highest region located in the western corner of Beijing stands at 2303 meters, while the lowest point found in the southern extremity rests at 44 meters above sea level. The city limits extend to about 80 km and consists of 18 districts and counties with a population of over 13 million people.

Beijing's land is beautified by green trees and lots of well-manicured lawns, and cultured with former imperial mansions , such as the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace and other old buildings, religious shrines and amazing old and modern structures.