BeijingandShanghaiarethetwobiggestandmostimportantcitiesinChina.Nowlet'shaveaquickandshortlookatthem.

　　Beijing,isthenation'spolitical,economic,culturalandeducationalcenteraswellasChina'smostimportantcenterforinternationaltradeandcommunications.

　　AsthecapitalofthePRC,BeijingislocatedinnorthernChina.Thecitycoversanareaofmorethan16,410squarekilometers(6336squaremiles)andhasapopulationof14.93millionpeople.

　　Beijingisacitywithfourdistinctseasons.Beijing'slongandillustrioushistorystartedsome500,000yearsago.RecordsshowthatBeijinghasbeenaninhabitedcityformorethanthreethousandyears.Formorethan800years,Beijingwasacapitalcity-fromtheYuanDynasty(1271-1368)totheMing(1368-1644)andQing(1644-1911)dynasties.

　　AlthoughnowBeijingisamodernandfashionablecitycompletewithafull21stCenturyvitality,youcanexperienceauthenticBeijinglifeandbecomeacquaintedwith'oldBeijing'byexploringitsmanyteahouses,templefairs,Beijing'sHutongandCourtyardandenjoythePekingOpera.TherearemanysightsinBeijinglikeTian'anmenSquare,theForbiddenCity,theGreatWall,aswellastheTempleofHeavenandsoon.Withitscentury-oldhistoryanduniqueculturalrelics,andasthehostcityofthe2008Olympics,Beijingattractsmoreandmorevisitors.

　　Shanghai,China'slargestmoderncity,issituatedinthemiddleofChina'seastcoastalline.Shanghaicoversanareaofover6,340squarekilosandhasapopulationofover15million.

　　Itisthelargesteconomicandtradecentreinthecountryandacomprehensiveindustrialbase.Itisanopencityalongthecoast,aswellasafamoushistoricalandculturalcity.Shanghai'shistoryofrevolutionandcultureattracttouristshomeandabroad.Beingregardedas"ParisofChina"andastheparadiseforshopping,Shanghaihasbecomeanidealcityfortourism.

　　ThePudongDevelopmentAreainShanghaiisanimportantspecialeconomiczoneinChina.EffortsarebeingmadetodevelopShanghaiintoamoderninternationaleconomic,financialandtradecentre.

　　WelcometovisitBeijingandShanghai