One of China's four metropolitan cities under the central government's direct jurisdiction, Beijing is the capital of the world's most populous nation. With a population of over 11 million, it is also the country's second-largest city, its cultural and political centre and transportation hub.

Boasting a history of over 3,000 years, Beijing is arguably China's most famous city, having served as the capital for seven dynasties dating from Yan of the tenth century B.C. until the latest Qing. Prior to 1949 when the People's Republic of China was founded, it was known as Peking and since then it has been the nation's capital under its current name.

Geographically, Beijing is situated in northern China. It faces plains to its south, while to its north lies Jundu Mountain, along which the world-famous section of the Great Wall, Badaling, was built.

The city's climate is a typical monsoon-influenced humid continental climate, characterised by hot, humid summers and harshly cold, windy, dry winters. The temperature can reach about 40 degrees centigrade in July but and drop to around minus-ten in winter.

Beijing attracts visitors from home and abroad with its ample and colorful historic legacies. Aside from the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Ming and Qing dynasties' royal palace, there are a long list of breathtaking ancient buildings featuring the Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven and the Ming Tombs.

Indeed, despite Beijing's rapid modernisation campaign, which has seen skyscrapers and commercial centres springing up across the city, a glimpse of the past can still be seen in the Hutong, a courtyard which used to be the distinctive home for the locals. Many of the city's traditional restaurants also provide traditional dishes such as 'Beijing toasted duck' and 'Chafing dish (hot pot)'.

In a cultural city such as Beijing, it is no wonder that sports have long enjoyed a key role, with football traditionally among the most popular games. One of China's traditional powerhouses, Beijing Guo'an is one of the few clubs which have successfully kept their giants' status intact since 1994, when the country first launched its professional football league. The club renowned for producing strong, tough players, with Beijing duo Xu Yulong and Zhang Shuai currently to be found shoring up the national team's defence.

The fact remains, however, that despite the locals' emotional attachment to football, Beijing Guo'an have never won the national championship. Their best finish came in 1995 when they finished runners-up behind Shanghai Shenhua.

Beijing is also not short of female footballers, with Liu Ailing the best known. China captain Li Jie is another prominent Beijing-based player for both club and country.