China is situated in the southeastern part of the Eurasian continent and is bordered in the east by the Pacific Ocean. It covers an area of 9,560,900 km² and is the third largest country in the world, being surpassed is size only by the Russia and Canada. The country stretches for about 5,500 km from the heilong Jiang river in the north ,near the city of Mohe, to the Zengmu Reef of the Nansha Islands in the South China Sea and for about 5,200 km form the Pamir highlands in the far west to the junction of the rivers Heilong Jiang and Wusuli jiang(Ussuri) in the east.
Its land frontier measures 28,000 km and is shared by North Korea in the north, the Russia in the northeast and northwest, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bhutan in the west and southwest, and Burma, Laos and Vietnam in the south. The Chinese coast is more than 18,000 km long and bounded by the Gulf of Bohai, the Yellow Sea, and the East and South China Seas. More than 5,000 islands dot the China coast, the lorgest of which is Taiwan(35,380 km*km ),followed by the island of Hainan(34,380 km*km ).
Politically, China is divided into 22 provinces (including Taiwan), five autonomous regions and the three municipalities of Beijing (Peking), Tianjin and Shanghai, which are directly under the central government.
Capital:
The capital of the People's Republic of China is Beijing(Peking).
National flag:
The national flag has five yellow, five-pointed stars on the upper felt part on a field of red. The red color of the flag symbolizes revolution. The five yellow stars represent the great unity of the revolutionary peoples under the leadership of the Communist Party of China.
National emblem:
The national emblem is with the famous gate, Tianan Men, in the center, illuminated by five stars and encircled by stalks of grain and a cogwheel.
China's land surface slopes from west to east and can be divided into three zones: The Qinghai-Tibet-Plateau has an average altitude of over 4,000 m. The greatest highland area of the world is located here -- the "Roof of the World"--with an average elevation of over 5,400 m. This zone covers an area of 2,200,000 km*km.The second zone begins east of the kunlun Mountains and has a mean altitude rantging from 1,000--2,000 m. The Tarim Basin, the Mongolian Highlands, the Loess Plateau of the Sichuan Basin and the Yunnan Guizhou Plateau are part of this region. East of this, the third zone begins with hardly any elevations exceeding 500 m. The relief levels off in an eastward direction toward the China Sea. This has traditionally been the agricultural region of the country. Here Chinese culture and civilization developed, and it is today the most densely populated area.
The most important rivers flow from west to east, following the topography of the land: the Huanghe, Yellow River, is 4,848 km long and the Changjiang (Yangtze) is 5,983 km in length.
China's topography is characterized by harsh contrasts and varied landscapes. The Mt., Qomolangma, Mount Everest,on the China/Nepal border has an elevation of 8,848 m,the highest mountain in the world.The Turfan Depression in the autonomous region of Xinjiang is the lowest point in China --155 m below sea level.
Beijing is visited by millions of guests from China and abroad every year. The city offers a bit of everything, no matter what line of interest the tourist chooses to follow. The most important sights are in the quarter around Tianamen Square with more recent buildings to the east ,south and west and the Imperial Palace to the north. Visitors on a short trip should also visit the Summer Palace, YiheYuan. Equally attractive are the temple complexes, as for example the lama temple or the complexes in Xishan, the Western Hills. A must in every program is a trip to the Great Wall.
Most visitors to Beijing will get the chance to take a trip to the Great Wall. There are special daily tourist trains to Badaling, 85km north of Beijing. This pass was repaired in 1957. If one should get the chance to go by bus or by car, this is recommended, since one os not bound to a schedule and avoids the crowds which form on the wall after the train's arrival. The tour takes about two hours, no matter what means of transportation is used.
Tian'an Men, Gate of Heavenly Peace 天安门
On the national coat of arms of the people's Republic of China, the Gate of Heavenly Peace is reepresented as the symbol of the revolutionary new China.
This is where Mao Zedong proclaimed the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1, 1949. Tian'an Men is located north of Tian'anmen Square and leads to the Imperial Palae. It was built as early as 1417 and mentioned as the main gate of the former Imperial Palace,Chengtian Men. The wooden structure burned down in 1457 and was reerected in 1651 and then called Tian' an Men. It is 34 m high, has red stone walls, a wooden roof and five entrances A portrait of Mao Zedong hangs over the main entrance, which in earlier times only the emperor had the right to use; to the left are the signs "Long live the People's Republic of China" and to the right: "Long live the grat union between the peoples of the world." A grandstand for up to 20,000 guests is above those banners.
The gate is surrounded by a ring-moat, the Golden Water Spring, which was arranged to guard the Imperial Palace. Five white marble bridges, the Golden Water Bridges, lead to the five passages of the gate. Two stone pillars stand in front of the entire complex, symbols of heavenly peace and the emperor's authority. They show a relief of dragon motifs and stylized clouds. On top sits the mythical beast Kong. Next to each piliar stands an iron lion. The gate, as well as the square in front of it, were not accessible to the public in imperial times. Often religious and military ceremonies were heeld here, imperial decrees and the results of Mandarin tests announced, and death sentences carried out.
The Imperial Palace, also called the Forbidden City, is one of the country's most important sights, for it is a symbol of traditional China and likewise the biggest and best preserved masterpiece of classical architecture.
The palace covers an area of 720,000 m. It is surrounded by a moat 50 m wide and a wall 10.4 m high with watch towers at each of the corners.
The entire palace grounds consist of two complexes, the outer and the inner courtyards. They contain six main halls and many smaller pavilions and buildings. In all, there are more than 9,000 rooms. The main building materials are wood and yellow-glazed tiles.
Its history dates back to the 13th century, when the Yuan imperial house established itself in Beijing and had a palace built. The Yongle Empeor of the Ming Dynasty, rejected power, and preferred Beijing. He had the Imperial Palace expanded to its present size; it was complted around 1420.
参考资料:http://www.chinapages.com/culture/chinaviewold.htm