Beijing, a fast changing city with a history going back 3,000 years, is an amazing mix of modernization and historical legacy. As you sip a cappuccino at Starbucks Cafe nestled under the golden roofs of the Imperial Palace or take a rickshaw trip through the high-rise buildings in the central business center, you will find the seamless union of the city's past and present.

As Beijingers pursue the comfort and efficiency of modernization, tradition and history are carefully preserved. Taking pride in its world-renowned cultural heritage, like the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace, Beijing maintains a great wealth of visual testimonies of its past in terms of sculptures, paintings, operas, buildings, furniture, jewelry, fossils and many other things.

The long-standing culture of Beijing is strong because of its inclusiveness. People can feel the pulse of the world in this city, through the European fashion shops, the international art shows, the Internet, the offices of multinational corporations and most importantly, the people who are earnest about learning new things. Because it has been the epic center for cultural, educational, tourist, scientific, diplomatic and political activities in China for centuries, Beijing embraces the world with its hospitality, tolerance and multiculturalism.