北京(1928～1949年间，称为北平。)
Beijing，亦拼作Pei-ching、Peking。
城市，直辖市，中国首都，人口数约为：市区为6,633,929人，含所属各县计12,570,000人（1999）。北京位於中国邻近东北方的宽阔平原上，自古以来即有人类在此定居。北京拥有多个不同名称，其中之一为1264年忽必烈的皇廷所驻跸、马可孛罗曾经探访的大都城（Khanbalik）（Cambaluc）。西元1421年，明朝政府迁都北京。在满族的统治下，它仍保持其原有的地位。北京於1860年和1900年间两度为欧洲军队所占领（另见义和团事件），遭受重大破坏。西元1928年，民国将首都迁至南京，将旧都改称为北平。西元1937年，离北京不远之处发生卢沟桥事件。西元1949年，共产党内战胜利後，重新恢复北京原名及其首都的地位。北京乃是中国的文化与教育中心，其古老的紫禁城包含过去的帝王宫殿；紧邻在外的天安门广场，则为世界上最大的公共广场。兴建於15世纪的北京城墙，有部分於文化大革命中被炸毁。西元2001年，北京获选主办2008年夏季奥运。
English version：
1928～1949年间，称为北平。
Beijing
City, municipality with provincial status, and capital of China (pop., 1999 est.: city, 6,633,929; municipality, 12,570,000). Lying on a broad plain in northeastern China, the city has been settled since ancient times and has been known by various names, including Khanbalik (or Cambaluc), when it became the royal residence of Kublai Khan in AD 1264, and was visited by Marco Polo. It was chosen as the capital in 1421, which it remained under the Manchus. It suffered heavy damage when it was occupied by European forces in 1860 and 1900 (see Boxer Rebellion). In 1928 the capital was moved to Nanjing, and the name Peiping was given the former capital. Nearby, in 1937, the Marco Polo Bridge Incident took place. Beijing's capital status and its former name were restored following the communist victory in 1949. It is China's cultural and educational center. The old Forbidden City contains the former imperial palace. Abutting it is Tiananmen Square, the world's largest public square. Beijing's 15th-century walls were partly demolished in the Cultural Revolution. In 2001 the city was selected as the site for the 2006 Summer Olympic Games.
