RSSAs the most populated country, china is a world of vigor and life. Its cities bustle with life and the real oriental charm. Every city has a charisma of its own, a life, a charm a voodoo of its own. Here is a list of some of the most fascinating cities of the China.
Beijing
Beijing is the capital of the People's Republic of China. In terms of population it is China's second largest city after Shanghai. Beijing is a major transportation hub, with dozens of railways, roads and expressways. It is also the pivot for many international flights to China. While Shanghai and Hong Kong dominates the economic fields, Beijing is recognized as the political, educational, and cultural center of China.
Beijing has been the home to the historical legacy of China, from dynasties of emperors and their palaces to the Cultural Revolution and the more recent pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen Square.
King Wu was the first to declare Beijing the capital city in 1057 BC. The city has gone by the names of Ji, Zhongdu, Dadu, and finally Beijing when the Ming Dynasty Emperor ChengZu chose the name in 1421. It was also known as Peking by the Western world before 1949. The climate in Beijing is of the continental type, with cold and dry winters and hot summers.
Beijing has an area of 16808 sq km with 18 districts and counties. The Population of Beijing is about 12 million. To China’s pride Beijing has been chosen to host the 2008 Summer Olympics, scheduled to August of the year 2008.
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city of china and is situated on the banks of the Yangtze River Delta. The massive developments in the past few decades have made Shanghai one of the most important economic, commercial, financial and communications hub of China.
Shanghai is the one of the world's busiest port, followed by Singapore and Rotterdam. Shanghai was the first coast of China to be opened to Western trade in 1843. It has the most highly skilled workers in China, and good transportation and communications links. It is well-known for its production of textiles and other consumer products. Shanghai is also one of China's top centers of learning including many universities and institutes.
Shanghai has its own distinctive dialect of the Chinese language, as different from Mandarin as is Cantonese. The name Shanghai literally means "onto the sea". Shanghai has been the birthplace of the revolutionary movement. It has long been home to artists and activists.
The tallest structure in China, the distinctive Oriental Pearl Tower, is located in Shanghai. Shanghai will also be the host of Expo 2010, a World's Fair.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong, famously known as the Oriental Pearl, is a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China. It is located on the southeastern coast of China and occupies an area of 1,092 sq km.
Hong Kong has one of the world's most liberal economies and is a major international centre of finance and trade. A former British colony now administered by the PRC under the policy of "one country, two systems".
A home to almost 6,780,000 souls, Hong Kong is a cosmopolitan city modern, efficient and peaceful. The transport structure, the shopping centers, the entertainment corners are just more than ordinary. Hong Kong is full of the delights of modern living alongside an abundance of reminders and remnants of its historic past. It has grown from what was a simple fishing village into the world's fourth largest banking and financial center and eighth largest trading economy.
Hong Kong is the melting pot of various cultures, synchronizing with Chinese traditions, exotic influences and the touch of modernity. On one hand being a former British colony, traces of British culture can be found everywhere, whereas on the other hand, Hong Kong preserves traditional customs and the essential values of Confucianism.
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