Ten fun facts about Beijing

Fact 1
Homo Erectus fossils have been found in the caves dating back 230,000 to 250,000 years ago, while homo sapiens have been known to live there about 27,000 years ago.

Fact 2
The air quality is often poor in Beijing. It is so bad, especially in the winter, many people often wear face masks.

Fact 3
The city is well known for it's large amount of cyclists. The land is flat, so the use of bicycles has risen.

Fact 4
The Beijing Subway is the third largest subway system in the world, with 17 lines, 227 stations and 283 miles of track.

Fact 5
Beijing is home to the 'Forbidden City', which was the imperial palace from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty.

Fact 6
A 2010 census showed that the official total population of the city was 19,612,368, which was a 44% increase over the last decade.

Fact 7
The first known church constructed by the Catholics was built in Beijing, in 1652. The Nantang Cathedral was later built at the same site.

Fact 8
The first walled city in Beijing was Ji. It was a city-state from the 11th century to the 7th century B.C.

Fact 9
Beijing became China's sole capital after the establishment of the Qing Dynasty.

Fact 10
The Beijing Municipality has 20 nature reserves to protect wildlife including leopards, wolves, mandarin ducks and more.