The capital of China is Beijing, meaning "northern capital," located in the northern part of the Great China Plain. It is a municipality under direct central government administration. Its population is over 15 million people, of which 6 million live in the city itself, the rest in suburbs. The highest body of executive authority is the People's Government of Beijing, headed by the Mayor.
The history of the urban settlements from which Beijing developed began over 4,000 years ago. The city was repeatedly devastated and ravaged during the era of warring states, by invading, attacking forces. The city changed both its name and location several times. In the 13th - 14th centuries, the city, then under the Mongol Yuan dynasty, was known as Dadu (Daidu). In 1421 it became the capital of the Chinese Ming dynasty, and was known by its present name. In September 1949 it was decreed the capital of the People's Republic of China (after 1927 the capital of Guomindan China had been Nanjing).
Beijing's most famous attractions include: the former Gugun Imperial palace (Forbidden City), the Temple of Heaven, the Thirteen Tombs of the Ming Dynasty, the tombs of the last Emperors of the Qing dynasty, the summer Imperial Palace (Yihe Yuan), the reconstructed sections of the Great Wall of China, and a host of Buddhist, Taoist, and Lamaist Monasteries most of which have been turned into museums.
Beijing is one of China's leading industrial centres, and includes virtually every sector of modern industry, from the iron and steel industry, chemical industry and machine building, to the light and food industries. In the suburbs the area of arable lands exceeds 110,000 hectares.
Beijing is the largest scientific and cultural centre in the country. It is home to the Academy of Sciences, and the Academy of Social Sciences of the People's Republic of China, as well as about 200 scientific and research institutes covering a range of specialities, more than 80 higher educational institutions, dozens of museums, libraries, exhibition halls, and theatres.
Holding the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing had a huge impact on the city's development. New buildings, highways, train stations and underground lines were built, and an array of stadiums and other sporting venues were constructed. The environmental conditions in the city noticeably improved.
Beijing is actively developing its trade, economic, and cultural ties with the outside world, including Russia. In 1995 an agreement between Moscow and Beijing was signed establishing friendly relations.