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{| class="toccolours" style="float: right; width: 18em; font-size: 90%;" cellspacing="1"
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: larger;" | '''Geography of Beijing'''
|-
| colspan="2" style="padding: 1em 0; text-align: center;"|[[File:Beijing in China (+all claims hatched).svg|thumb|250px|Location of Beijing Municipality in northern China]]
|-
| colspan="2" style="padding: 1em 0; text-align: center;" |[[File:Large Beijing Landsat.jpg|thumb|250px|Satellite image of [[List of administrative divisions of Beijing|Beijing Municipality]], showing the city of [[Beijing]] (in pink) with mountains in the north and west and plains to the east and south]]
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|'''Continent'''
|style="padding-right: 1em;" | [[Asia]]
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|'''Location'''
|style="padding-right: 1em;" | [[North China Plain]]
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|'''Coordinates'''
|style="padding-right: 1em;" | {{coord|39|54|N|116|24|E|display=inline}}
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|'''Area (municipality)'''
|style="padding-right: 1em;" | Total: {{convert|16801|km2|sqmi}}<br />
|}

'''[[Beijing]]''' is a [[Direct-controlled municipality|municipality]] located in [[North China]] at the northern tip of the [[North China Plain]], near the meeting point of the [[Western Hills|Xishan]] and [[Yan Mountains|Yanshan]] [[mountain ranges]].  The city itself lies on flat land (elevation {{convert|20|to|60|m|ft|sigfig=2|abbr=on}}) that opens to the east and south. The municipality's outlying [[List of administrative divisions of Beijing|districts and counties]] extend into the mountains that surround the city from the southwest to the northeast.  The highest peaks are over {{convert|2000|m|ft|sigfig=2|abbr=on}}.

Beijing Municipality consists of six city districts (previously eight, see [[Xuanwu District, Beijing|Xuanwu]] and [[Chongwen District|Chongwen]]), eight suburban districts and two rural counties.  It covers a total area of
{{convert|16807.8|km2|1|abbr=on}}. By land area, the municipality is slightly smaller than the country of [[Kuwait]], though much of the municipality outside the urban core is sparsely populated mountains and farmland.  The terrain is roughly 38% flat and 62% mountainous.<ref name=autogenerated2>(Chinese) [http://beijing.qianlong.com/3825/2004/03/24/83@1960527.htm 北京地理概貌] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303171148/http://beijing.qianlong.com/3825/2004/03/24/83@1960527.htm |date=2016-03-03 }} last accessed 11/18/08</ref> The city is {{convert|150|km|abbr=on}} inland from the [[Bohai Sea]] via [[Tianjin Municipality]] in the southeast. Aside from Tianjin, Beijing is bordered on all other sides by [[Hebei Province]], including a piece wedged between Beijing and Tianjin.

Historically, Beijing was situated on the border between [[sedentism|sedentary]] [[agricultural]] areas to the south and [[pastoralism|pastoralist]] regions beyond the mountains to the north. The [[Great Wall]] of China was built across the mountains north of Beijing to guard against nomadic invasions. In modern times, the same mountains that shielded Beijing from the [[Gobi]] [[steppes]] also form a semi-circular basin which catches the city's [[air pollution]].  Severe [[smog]] problems develop in the summer as the hot and humid air pressure from [[monsoons]] in the south prevent air pollutants from leaving the basin.  Smog is less severe in the fall and winter when the direction of the wind currents reverse course  as the vast [[anticyclone]] high pressure system takes hold and brings cold, dry air from [[Siberia]]. In the spring, the northerly winds, pick up dust from [[desertification|desertifying]] areas of western China and bring occasionally severe [[dust storms]] to Beijing.  The city's [[climate]] is characterized by hot, humid summers and cold, windy, and dry winters.

==Layout of Beijing's administrative divisions==

In imperial times, the old walled city of Beijing occupied {{convert|62|km2|abbr=on}}.<ref name=autogenerated2 /> The physical size of the city has grown more than tenfold in recent decades to about {{convert|750|km2|abbr=on}}.  The inner suburbs ({{convert|1282|km2|abbr=on|disp=or}}), and outer suburbs ({{convert|3198|km2|abbr=on|disp=or}}) provide further space for growth.<ref name=autogenerated2 />   The remaining {{convert|12239.9|km2|abbr=on}} of the municipality consists of rural areas, nature reserves and lightly populated mountains.<ref name=autogenerated2 />
[[File:colorBeijingMap.png|thumb|left|Map showing the core city districts (red), surrounding urban districts (blue), interior suburban districts (green) and the far north districts and counties (dark yellow)]]

Two urban districts, '''[[Dongcheng District, Beijing|Dongcheng]]''' and '''[[Xicheng District|Xicheng]]''' form the urban core of Beijing. They occupy the area inside the [[Beijing city fortifications|old walled city]], which used to be divided into two walled sections, ''neicheng'', the inner city and ''waicheng'', the adjoining outer city to the south.  Though the city walls no longer stand, they continue to retain geographic significance.  Streets that once traversed the wall are still named ''nei'' (inner) or ''wai'' (outer) in relationship to whether the street section is inside or outside the wall. Today, [[Line 2, Beijing Subway|Line 2 loop]] of the [[Beijing Subway]] traces the inner city wall.  The [[2nd Ring Road]] outlines the combined walled city including the outer city.

The inner city is divided into eastern and western halves by Dongcheng and Xicheng Districts.  The [[Forbidden City]], where emperors once lived, and [[Tiananmen Square]], the center of the city, both belong to Dongcheng.  But the [[Zhongnanhai]] Compound, next door to the Forbidden City, where China's current leaders now reside, and the [[Great Hall of the People]], on the west side of Tiananmen Square, both are part of Xicheng.  The outer city, adjacent and south of the inner city, comprises the former [[Xuanwu District, Beijing|Xuanwu]] and [[Chongwen District|Chongwen]] districts, merged with Xicheng and Dongcheng respectively in July 2010.  Chongwen is home to the [[Temple of Heaven]].  Xuanwu is oldest continuously inhabited part of Beijing.  Some of its neighborhoods including those around the [[Niujie Mosque]] (b. 996 A.D.) and [[Pagoda of Tianning Temple (Beijing)|Pagoda of Tianning Temple]] (b. 1119 A.D.) predate the [[Yuan dynasty|Yuan]] [[Khanbaliq|capital]].  Unlike in most other parts of the city, most narrow lanes in Xuanwu are called ''jie'' instead of ''[[hutong]]s''.  Each of the two core city districts has [[population density]] of over 20000 persons/km<sup>2</sup> (51800 persons/sq. mi.)

[[File:Gfp-beijing-immortals-valley-generals-peak.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Jundu Mountains]] in [[Miyun County]]]]
Beyond the 2nd Ring Road, the city spreads out in a checkerboard fashion marked by concentric ring roads.  Four other districts, '''[[Haidian District|Haidian]]''', '''[[Chaoyang District, Beijing|Chaoyang]]''', '''[[Fengtai District|Fengtai]]''' and '''[[Shijingshan District|Shijingshan]]''', were once considered on the city's outskirts, but are now integral parts of the city inside the [[5th Ring Road]].  All four have population densities above 4500 persons/km<sup>2</sup> (11,600 persons/km<sup>2</sup>).  The vast Haidian District to the northwest is home to the [[Old Summer Palace|Old]] and [[Summer Palace|New Summer Palace]], the university district, and [[Zhongguancun]], the city's high-technology silicon village.  The even bigger Chaoyang District embraces the city from the north and east.  Its possessions include [[Beijing CBD|Beijing Central Business District (CBD)]], the [[Olympic Green]], and even the [[Beijing Capital International Airport]].<ref>The Beijing Capital Airport and the highway connecting it to the city are administered by Chaoyang District even though the airport is almost completely surrounded by Shunyi District.</ref>  Shijingshan is a heavily industrialized district in the foothills of the Western Hills.  Fengtai spans across the south of urban Beijing.

Of the suburban districts further afield, '''[[Tongzhou District, Beijing|Tongzhou]]''' and '''[[Shunyi District|Shunyi]]''' in the east are rapidly urbanizing.  '''[[Mentougou District|Mentougou]]''' and '''[[Fangshan District|Fangshan]]''' lie to the west, in Xishan, also known as the Western Hills.  Fangshan is home to two of the oldest prehistoric sites in Beijing Municipality: the caves at [[Zhoukoudian]], home of the [[Peking Man]], and [[Liulihe Site|Liulihe]], the site of the capital of the [[State of Yan|Yan Kingdom]] during the [[Western Zhou dynasty]].  '''[[Daxing District]]''', to the south, is largely agricultural but is also developing its own technology park in [[Yizhuang, Beijing|Yizhuang]].  '''[[Changping District|Changping]]''' just north of the city ranges from densely urbanized [[Tiantongyuan]] in the south to the [[Juyongguan]] Great Wall in the north.  In between are the [[Thirteen Ming Tombs]].

Far north of the municipality in the Yanshan range are '''[[Yanqing County|Yanqing]]''' and '''[[Miyun County|Miyun Counties]]''', and '''[[Huairou District|Huairou]]''' and '''[[Pinggu District]]s''', both of which were rural counties until 2001.  The far north is rugged, rural and sparsely populated.  Yanqing, Huairou and Miyun all have fewer than 200 residents per km<sup>2</sup> (518/sq. mi.).  They are perhaps best known for stretches of the [[Great Wall]], with [[Badaling]] and [[Shuiguan]] in Yanqing, [[Mutianyu]], [[Huanghuacheng]] and [[Jiankou]] in Huairou, and [[Gubeikou]] and [[Simatai]] in Miyun, and Jiangjunguan in Pinggu.

==Topography==
[[File:Beijing Map.png|thumb|Topography of Beijing]]

The city of Beijing lies on low and flat land, with elevation generally between {{convert|40|–|60|m}} above sea level. The highest point inside the old walled city is at the top of Coal Hill in [[Jingshan Park]], which rises to {{convert|88.35|m}} and overlooks the Forbidden City.<ref>(Chinese) [http://www.bjmacp.gov.cn/cn/tabs/showdetail.aspx?iid=1537&nav=0&tabID=510501 Jingshan Park] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080804115636/http://www.bjmacp.gov.cn/cn/tabs/showdetail.aspx?iid=1537&nav=0&tabID=510501 |date=2008-08-04 }}</ref> Longevity Hill in the [[Summer Palace]] reaches an elevation of {{convert|109|m}}.<ref>(Chinese) [http://www.hsyxnews.com/Article_Show.asp?ArticleID=1948 Summer Palace] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070814180406/http://hsyxnews.com/Article_Show.asp?ArticleID=1948 |date=2007-08-14 }}</ref> The plains from Beijing extend to the east as far as [[Shanhai Pass|Shanhaiguan]] on the Bohai Sea and as far south as [[Nanjing]], on the [[Yangtze River]].

[[File:Jingshan.JPG|thumb|upright=1.35|left|[[Jingshan Park|Jingshan]], the highest point in the old walled city of Beijing]]
To the west is [[Western Hills|Xishan]], also known as the Western Hills, which are visible from the city on clear days.  Xishan forms the eastern flank of the [[Taihang Mountains]] range, which run north–south up the spine of [[Hebei]] province.<ref name="autogenerated1">(Chinese) [http://info.chcx.com/ib/200711/12838904549421875019908.html北京市山脉]{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} last accessed 11/16/08</ref>  Xishan covers nearly all of Fangshan and Mentougou Districts west of the city.  East Lingshan (elevation {{convert|2,303|m}}), a Xishan peak on the border with Hebei, is the highest point in Beijing Municipality.<ref name=autogenerated1 />  It is located {{convert|122|km|abbr=on}} from the city.  Xishan is also known for high mountain meadows and scenic river gorges, including [[Shidu, Beijing|Shidu]].  [[Foothills]] of Xishan reach the city itself.  They include [[Fragrant Hills]], a major tourist attraction and [[Lao Mountain Bike Course|Laoshan]], the site of mountain bike competition in the [[2008 Summer Olympics]].

[[File:Forbbiden city from Jingshan Park.jpg|thumb|left|Looking north from atop [[Jingshan Park|Jingshan Hill]] along Di'anmen Avenue to the [[Gulou and Zhonglou (Beijing)|Drum Tower of Beijing]]. Di'anmen Avenue runs along Beijing's median axis. Dongcheng District is to the right and Xicheng is to the left. The Yanshan range north of the city is faintly visible in the distance.]]
[[File:GreatWall 2004 Summer 1.jpg|thumb|right|Badaling Great Wall in the Yanshan range]]
The mountains north of Beijing including [[Badaling]], [[Jundu Mountains]] and Fenghuanling all belong to the [[Yan Mountains|Yanshan]] range, which runs east–west, across northern Hebei Province.  Yanshan separates the [[North China Plain]] from the [[steppes]] and held considerable military significance in history.  All of Beijing's [[Great Wall]] sections were built in the Yanshan range, which reaches a height of {{convert|2241|m|abbr=on}} at Haituoshan on the border between Yanqing County and Hebei.<ref name=autogenerated1 />

The Yanshan and Xishan ranges meet at [[Nankou, Beijing|Nankou]], in Changping District, northwest of the city.  The intersection creates a massive fault line and rift valley through which the city's main roads and railroads to the northwest pass.

==Hydrology==
[[File:Beihai Park-Qiongdao Island.jpg|thumb|right|Beihai lake and Qiongdao Island in downtown Beijing]]
{{main|Water management in Beijing}}
Several major [[river]]s, including the [[Yongding River|Yongding]], [[Chaobai River|Chaobai]], [[Juma River (China)|Juma]] and Wenyu flow through Beijing Municipality. They originate in the highlands of Hebei and Shanxi, cut through the mountains west and north of the city, and eventually flow into the [[Hai River]], which empties into the [[Bohai Sea]]. Over the centuries, hydrologists have channeled rivers through the city into [[man-made lake]]s, [[moat]]s, [[Channel (geography)|channels]] and [[aqueduct (water supply)|aqueduct]]s, which provide water to the city and drain its refuse, but no longer threaten Beijing with flooding.

[[File:Lugouqiao2.jpg|thumb|left|[[Marco Polo Bridge]] across the [[Yongding River]]]]
Downtown Beijing has several [[lake]]s called ''hai'' or sea. During the Yuan dynasty, the Mongol rulers expanded them and built imperial palace of [[Khanbaliq|Dadu]] around them.  Subsequent emperors of the [[Ming dynasty|Ming]] and [[Qing dynasty|Qing]] dynasties used the lakes as imperial gardens.  Today, the three northernmost lakes, ''Xihai'' (West Sea), ''[[Houhai]]'' (Rear Sea) and ''Qianhai'' (Front Sea), collectively known as ''[[Shichahai]]'', are lined with bars and cafés and known for nightlife.  To their south, ''[[Beihai Park|Beihai]]'' (North Sea) is a city park, and ''Zhonghai'' (Central Sea) and ''Nanhai'' (South Sea) are part of the [[Zhongnanhai]] Compound, residence to China's leaders.  This string of lakes used to form the main riverbed of the Yongding River, which now flows {{convert|50|–|60|km|mi|abbr=on}} to the west.  But 1,800 years ago, the Yongding flowed through Jishuitan and downtown Beijing and then into [[Longtan Park|Longtan Lake]] and on to Tongzhou.<ref>(Chinese)[http://www.bjww.gov.cn/2008/6-24/131214-3.shtml 陈平, 三、什刹海与陶然湖、古蓟城]{{Dead link|date=May 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} June 6, 2008</ref>  A major flood in 295 A.D. devastated part of Beijing, then known as Ji.  Just west of [[Wangfujing]], there is still a stretch of Beijing called ''Shatan'' or Sandy Beach.
[[File:Chaoyang District, Beijing China - Summoer 2009.jpg|thumb|right|The Tonghui canal, an extension of the Grand Canal, near Gaobeidian]]

[[File:Kunming Lake (Summer Palace, Beijing) in summer.JPG|thumb|left|Kunming Lake in the Summer Palace]]
Today, an [[aqueduct (water supply)|aqueduct]] draws water from the Yongding through Yuyuantan Park to the western city moat, which empties into Liangshui River south of the city. Another aqueduct draws water from Kunming Lake in the [[Summer Palace]] down through the [[Purple Bamboo Park]] and into the northern city moat, which also replenishes Shichahai, Beihai and Zhongnanhai. The northern moats are drained by the Ba River, which flows into the Wenyu River. The southern and eastern moats are drained by the Tonghui River, which also flow into the Wenyu.

This network of rivers and aqueducts are fed by [[reservoirs]] to the north of the city. The Miyun Reservoir, the largest in the municipality, is created at the confluence of the Chao and Bai Rivers, which forms the Chaobai.  The Yongding, before entering the municipality in Mentougou District, is dammed to create the vast Guanting Reservoir of Hebei Province. Despite these reservoirs, the city of Beijing faces chronic water shortages due to water-intensive agriculture, industry, and population growth.  Under the [[South-North Water Transfer Project]], the city plans to draw water from the [[Yangtze River]] through the [[Grand Canal (China)|Grand Canal]], which was built 800 years ago for transportation, but now is being upgraded into a major aqueduct.
{{-}}

==Climate==
{{climate chart
| Beijing
| -6.9 |  2.3 |   2.2
| -3.6 |  3.2 |   5.8
|  1.9 | 13.2 |   8.6
|  9.0 | 21.0 |  21.7
| 15.1 | 27.2 |  36.1
| 20.0 | 30.8 |  72.4
| 23.0 | 31.8 | 169.7
| 22.0 | 30.7 | 113.4
| 16.3 | 26.5 |  53.7
|  8.8 | 19.3 |  28.7
|  0.7 | 10.3 |  13.5
| -5.0 |  3.7 |   2.2
|float=left
|clear=none
|source = CMA <ref name=CMA>
{{cite web
 |url=http://cdc.cma.gov.cn/dataSetLogger.do?changeFlag=dataLogger
 |script-title=zh:中国地面国际交换站气候标准值月值数据集（1981－2010年）
 |publisher=[[China Meteorological Administration]]
 |language=Chinese
 |access-date=2015-01-15
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130318113757/http://cdc.cma.gov.cn/dataSetLogger.do?changeFlag=dataLogger
 |archive-date=2013-03-18
 |df= 
}}</ref> }}

The city has a rather dry monsoon-influenced [[humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Dwa''), bordering on a [[cool semi-arid climate]] (''BSk''); characterised by hot, humid summers due to the East Asian [[monsoon]], and generally cold, windy, very dry winters that reflect the influence of the vast [[Siberian]] [[anticyclone]].<ref name="people's daily">{{cite web
  |title=Beijing
  |url=http://english.people.com.cn/data/province/beijing.html
  |work=People's Daily
  |date=March 2001
  |access-date=2008-06-22}}</ref> Yet during the winter, winds from the northwest must cross the mountains that shield the city, keeping the city warmer than other locations of similar latitude in China. Spring can bear witness to sandstorms blowing in from the Mongolian steppe, accompanied by rapidly warming, but generally dry, conditions. Autumn, like spring, sees little rain but is crisp and short. January averages {{convert|−2.7|°C|1}}, while July averages {{convert|27.2|°C|1}}. Annual [[precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]] is around {{convert|570|mm|1}}, falling mostly in July and August. Extremes have ranged from {{convert|−27.4|to|41.9|°C|°F|0}}. 
{{Beijing weatherbox}}

{{Weather box
|location = Beijing (1981–2010 normals, extremes 1951–2016)
|width = auto
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|collapsed = Y
|Jan high C =  1.8
|Feb high C =  6.2
|Mar high C = 12.8
|Apr high C = 20.6
|May high C = 27.0
|Jun high C = 30.7
|Jul high C = 32.1
|Aug high C = 30.6
|Sep high C = 26.6
|Oct high C = 19.4
|Nov high C = 10.2
|Dec high C =  3.5
|Jan mean C = -3.0
|Feb mean C =  0.7
|Mar mean C =  7.1
|Apr mean C = 14.8
|May mean C = 21.0
|Jun mean C = 25.1
|Jul mean C = 27.3
|Aug mean C = 25.9
|Sep mean C = 21.2
|Oct mean C = 13.9
|Nov mean C =  5.1
|Dec mean C = -1.1
|Jan low C = −7.3
|Feb low C = −4.1
|Mar low C =  1.8
|Apr low C =  8.9
|May low C = 15.0
|Jun low C = 19.9
|Jul low C = 23.1
|Aug low C = 21.8
|Sep low C = 16.3
|Oct low C =  8.9
|Nov low C =  0.6
|Dec low C = −5.1
|Jan record high C = 14.3
|Feb record high C = 19.8
|Mar record high C = 29.5
|Apr record high C = 33.0
|May record high C = 38.3
|Jun record high C = 40.6
|Jul record high C = 41.9
|Aug record high C = 38.3
|Sep record high C = 35.0
|Oct record high C = 31.0
|Nov record high C = 23.3
|Dec record high C = 19.5
|year record high C= 41.9
|Jan record low C = −22.8
|Feb record low C = −27.4
|Mar record low C = −15.0
|Apr record low C = −3.2
|May record low C =  2.5
|Jun record low C =  9.8
|Jul record low C =  15.3
|Aug record low C =  11.4
|Sep record low C =  3.7
|Oct record low C = −3.5
|Nov record low C = −12.3
|Dec record low C = −18.3
|year record low C= −27.4
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm =   2.8
|Feb precipitation mm =   4.4
|Mar precipitation mm =   9.9
|Apr precipitation mm =  23.7
|May precipitation mm =  37.6
|Jun precipitation mm =  70.5
|Jul precipitation mm = 159.6
|Aug precipitation mm = 139.4
|Sep precipitation mm =  48.7
|Oct precipitation mm =  23.9
|Nov precipitation mm =   9.6
|Dec precipitation mm =   2.0

|source 1 = China Meteorological Administration<ref name=CMA2>
{{cite web
 |url=http://cdc.cma.gov.cn/dataSetLogger.do?changeFlag=dataLogger
 |script-title=zh:中国地面国际交换站气候标准值月值数据集（1981－2010年）
 |publisher=[[China Meteorological Administration]]
 |language=zh
 |access-date=2015-01-15
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130318113757/http://cdc.cma.gov.cn/dataSetLogger.do?changeFlag=dataLogger
 |archive-date=2013-03-18
}}</ref>
|date=August 2010
}}
{{-}}

==Statistics==
===Location===
[[File:Earth Centered at Beijing.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.8|Map of the earth centered at Beijing]]
With coordinates of 39° 54' 50 N and 116° 23' 30" E, Beijing shares roughly the same latitude as [[Denver]], [[Indianapolis]], [[Columbus, Ohio|Columbus]] (Ohio), [[Philadelphia]], [[Ankara]], [[Bukhara]], as well as [[Jiayuguan (city)|Jiayuguan]], [[Yumen City|Yumen]], and [[Jiuquan]] in [[Gansu]]. The city lines up at about the same longitude as [[Xilinhot]], [[Inner Mongolia]]; [[Dezhou]], [[Shandong]]; [[Yongcheng]], [[Henan]]; [[Lu'an]], [[Anhui]]; [[Linchuan]], [[Jiangxi]]; [[Changting County|Changting]], [[Fujian]]; [[Jieyang]], [[Guangdong]]; [[Kota Kinabalu]], [[Malaysia]]; and [[Mataram (city)|Mataram]], [[Indonesia]]. The latitude of the municipality ranges from 39° 27' to 41° 03' N and in longitude from 115° 25' to 117° 30' E.

Beijing's [[antipodes|antipode]] is located in the eastern part of [[Río Negro Province]], [[Argentina]], inland from [[Viedma]].
===Area===
'''[[Direct-administered municipality]]''':<ref>{{cite book|last=Bronger|first=Dick|editor1-last=Raza|editor1-first=Mehdi|editor2-last=Shafi|editor2-first=Mohammad|title=Spectrum of Modern Geography: Essays in Memory of Professor Mohammad Anas |date=1986 |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |isbn=9788170220558 |chapter=Metropolization in India and China}}</ref>
*Total: {{convert|16807.8|km2|sqmi}}
*Land: {{convert|16807.8|km2|sqmi}}
*Water: ''negligible''
====Area comparative====
*Australia comparative: approximately ⁠{{sfrac|1|4}}⁠ the size of [[Tasmania]]
*Canada comparative: approximately ⁠three times the size of⁠ [[Prince Edward Island]]
*United States comparative: approximately {{sfrac|1|7}} larger than [[Connecticut]]
*United Kingdom comparative: approximately {{sfrac|1|7}} larger than [[Northern Ireland]]
*EU comparative: slightly more than ⁠{{sfrac|1|2}}⁠ the size of [[Belgium]]

==Maps and satellite images==
<gallery caption="" widths="220px" heights="150px">
Image:Beijing urban landsat.jpg | Beijing's urban extent
Image:Beijing SPOT 1059.jpg |Satellite image of the city of Beijing, with the [[Forbidden City]] in the center, just north of [[Tiananmen Square]] and east of a string of lakes.  Also visible are Yuyuantan lake in the west and the southern city moat, which once surrounded the walled outer city.
Image:Beijing ast 2007220 lrg.jpg|Satellite view of the city within the [[6th Ring Road]]
Image:Peking1875.jpg | The Beijing area in 1875
Image:Peking environs 1912.jpg | Beijing in 1912
Image:Peking 1916.jpg | The old city in 1916
File:Txu-oclc-10552568-nj50-2.jpg|Map of Beijing (labeled as PEI-P’ING (PEIPING) {{lang|zh|北平}}) and nearby areas (1954)
File:Beijing 1986 Vicinity.jpg|Beijing and vicinity in 1986
Image:Beijing city wall map vectorized.svg|Map showing the old walled city, including the inner and outer cities
</gallery><br/>
[[File:Urban Sprawl in Beijing, China.ogv|thumb|upright=1.6|center|Animation zooming down to Beijing in 1978 via Landsat-3. The data then dissolves to Beijing in 2010 through the sensors of Landsat-5. The red areas are non-vegetated urban areas.]]

==See also==
{{Portal|Geography}}
*[[Neighborhoods in Beijing]]
*[[Geography of China]]
*[[North China Plain]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[http://www.wdl.org/en/item/44 "Peking"], a map from 1914

{{Beijing|state=show}}

{{commons category|Geography of Beijing}}
{{Beijing Parks}}

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