BEIJING lies in the north of the North China Plain, at 39¡ã56¡äN and 116¡ã20¡äE. it neighbors the Tianjin Municipality in the east, and borders Hebei Province on three sides-the north, west and south. The terrain of the Beijing area slopes from the northwest to the southeast. Mountains snake round the city's north, west and northeast, while the southeast part of the city is a plain that slopes gently toward the coast of the Bohai Sea. The Yongding, Chaobai and Juma rivers and the north section of the Grand Cannel crisscross the area under Beijing's jurisdiction. Most of the rivers originate from mountainous areas in the northwest, cut through mountains and zigzag through the plain in the southeast before emptying into Bohai Sea.
Beijing belongs to the warm temperate zone with a semi-humid climate. It has four distinctive seasons, with short springs and autumns while summers and winters are always long. Annual temperatures average 12.8¡æ. January is the coldest month with an average temperature of -6.4¡æ,and July, the hottest with an average temperature of 29.6¡æ. The annual precipitation s measured at 371.1mm, and the frost-free period is 196 days.
Beijing is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It covers 16,807.8 square kilometers. Mountainous areas occupy 10,417.5 square kilometers, accounting for 62% of the city's landmass. The rest, 6390.3 square kilometers or 38% of the total, are flatland. The municipality governs 14 urban districts and 4 rural counties.
The city is well known for its flatness and regular construction. There is only one hill to be found in the city limits (in Jingshan Park to the north of the famous Forbidden City). Like the configuration of the Forbidden City, Beijing has concentric "ring roads", which are actually rectangular, that go around the metropolis.

Best Tourism Season in Beijing
Spring and autumn are the perfect seasons for tourists because of the moderate temperature. The fall especially presents a ¡°Golden Beijing¡± with clear and comfortable weather. The best times for touring Beijing are April, May, September and October.
You may get weather forecasts from newspapers, radio and TV in Beijing, or dial 12121 to acquire that of the current and next day in both Chinese and English.
However, travel in Beijing mainly focuses on cultural and historic sites, buildings of interest and folk customs, which do not depend on the weather. You may come to Beijing anytime during the year. The low-season prices offered by travel agencies and hotels in winter can make your tour more economical.