BEIJING, CHINA

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Beijing

To the first-time visitor, Beijing seems a vast and sprawling city. It is characterized by long, wide boulevards and a labyrinthine network of overpasses and freeways that comprises the six ring roads.

Fortunately, there is order in the chaos. At the heart of Beijing lies the Forbidden City, the absolute center of the capital, from where the ring roads emanate in concentric circles. First Ring Road surrounds the former imperial complex and land that is now mostly parks and museums. More important to travelers is navigating the Second and Third Ring Roads. Second Ring Road was built where Beijing’s ancient city walls once stood, and the old city is comprised within including the districts of Dong Cheng, Xi Cheng, Chong Wen and Xuan Wu. The area within Third Ring Road is also considered the center of the town where the most concentrated portion of public transit exists, including Chao Yang and Hai Dian districts. The fourth, fifth and sixth rings are useful for commuting to the airport, university and technology district, and outlying suburbs. These ring roads are designated according to... more