BEIJING

Rank: 5th in Asia

Beijing, capital of the People's Republic of China, is China's second largest city after Shanghai, with more than 17 million people live in Beijing municipality.

Beijing is recognised as the political, educational, and cultural centre of the People's Republic of China, while Shanghai and Hong Kong predominate in economic fields.

The city's urban area has about 13 million residents. Beijing is a major transportation hub, with dozens of railways, roads and motorways passing through the city. It is also the focal point of many international flights.