China torch relay: Beijing

Beijing seamlessly mixes old and new

Home to 14 million people, Beijing is China's second-largest city and has served as the capital almost continuously since the 15th Century.

It mixes concrete towers, glass and steel office blocks and ancient sites of historical importance.

At the heart of the city lie the curved roofs and ornate statues of the Forbidden City, the emblem of China's imperial past.

This leads directly onto the august government buildings of Tiananmen Square - very much a symbol of Communist China.

CHINA RELAY CITIES IN FOCUS Use the map to see the full Olympic torch relay route or read about some of the key cities: Full route map, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Jinggangshan, Shanghai, Nanjing, Huangshan, Three Gorges, Kaili, Lhasa, Urumqi, Xian, Yanji, Qufu, Anyang, Beijing.

The square serves as a meeting place for Beijingers who variously chat, smoke or practise Tai Chi on its concrete paving stones.

Like its architecture, Beijing's weather tends toward extreme contrasts. Hot, humid summers quickly give way to freezing winters, where the temperature can tumble below -20C.

Ahead of the Olympic Games, Beijing's polluted air has made the headlines, with athletes expressing concern that it might affect their performance.

The city also suffers from dust storms, as north-westerly winds sweep down from desert regions of Mongolia in springtime.

The torch arrives in Beijing on 6 August, just two days before the start of the Olympic Games.

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