Beijing is situated at the northern tip of the roughly triangular North China Plain, which opens to the south and east of the city. Mountains to the north, northwest and west shield the city and northern China's agricultural heartland from the encroaching desert steppes. The northwestern part of the municipality, especially Yanqing District and Huairou District, are dominated by the Jundu Mountains, while the western part is framed by Xishan or the Western Hills. The Great Wall of China across the northern part of Beijing Municipality was built on the rugged topography to defend against nomadic incursions from the steppes. Mount Dongling, in the Western Hills and on the border with Hebei, is the municipality's highest point, with an altitude of 2,303 metres (7,556 ft).

Major rivers flowing through the municipality, including the Chaobai, Yongding, Juma, are all tributaries in the Hai River system, and flow in a southeasterly direction. The Miyun Reservoir, on the upper reaches of the Chaobai River, is the largest reservoir within the municipality. Beijing is also the northern terminus of the Grand Canal to Hangzhou, which was built over 1,400 years ago as a transportation route, and the South–North Water Transfer Project, constructed in the past decade to bring water from the Yangtze River basin.

The urban area of Beijing, on the plains in the south-central of the municipality with elevation of 40 to 60 metres (130–200 feet), occupies a relatively small but expanding portion of the municipality's area. The city spreads out in concentric ring roads. The Second Ring Road traces the old city walls and the Sixth Ring Road connects satellite towns in the surrounding suburbs. Tian'anmen and Tian'anmen Square are at the center of Beijing, directly to the south of the Forbidden City, the former residence of the emperors of China. To the west of Tian'anmen is Zhongnanhai, the residence of China's current leaders. Chang'an Avenue, which cuts between Tiananmen and the Square, forms the city's main east–west axis.

Beijing's pattern of development from the old inner city to its urban fringe are frequently described as "spreading like a pancake" (tan da bing).^[79]^: 135 This pattern of development is frequently cited as a reason for Beijing's urban problems.^[79]^: 135

Climate

Beijing has a monsoon-influenced humid continental climate (Köppen: Dwa), bordering on a cold semi-arid climate (Köppen: BSk) in the south and in the northwest, characterized by hot, humid summers due to the East Asian monsoon, and brief but cold, dry winters that reflect the influence of the vast Siberian anticyclone.^[80] Spring can bear witness to sandstorms blowing in from the Gobi Desert across the Mongolian steppe, accompanied by rapidly warming, but generally dry, conditions. Autumn, similar to spring, is a season of transition and minimal precipitation. According to China's seasonal division standard, Beijing enters spring on 26 March, summer on 20 May, autumn on 13 September, and winter on 31 October. The average annual temperature in the urban area of Beijing is 12.9 °C (55.2 °F) to 13.3 °C (55.9 °F), of which the average daily minimum temperature is 7.7 °C (45.9 °F) to 8.4 °C (47.1 °F), and the average daily maximum temperature is 18.5 °C (65.3 °F) to 18.9 °C (66.0 °F). The monthly daily average temperature in January is −2.7 °C (27.1 °F), while in July it is 27.2 °C (81.0 °F). Precipitation averages around 528.0 mm (20.8 in) annually (Haidian and Chaoyang has an average annual precipitation of 584.2 mm (23.0 in)), with close to three-quarters of that total falling from June to August. With monthly percent possible sunshine ranging from 42% in July to 62% in January and February, the city receives 2,490.5 hours of bright sunshine annually. Extremes since 1951 have ranged from −27.4 °C (−17.3 °F) on 22 February 1966 to 41.9 °C (107.4 °F) on 24 July 1999 (unofficial record of 42.6 °C (108.7 °F) was set on 15 June 1942).^[81]^[82]

More information Climate data for Beijing (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1951–present), Month ...

Climate data for Beijing (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1951–present)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	14.3 (57.7)	25.6 (78.1)	29.5 (85.1)	33.5 (92.3)	41.1 (106.0)	41.1 (106.0)	41.9 (107.4)	39.3 (102.7)	35.2 (95.4)	31.0 (87.8)	23.3 (73.9)	19.5 (67.1)	41.9 (107.4)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	2.3 (36.1)	6.1 (43.0)	13.2 (55.8)	21.0 (69.8)	27.2 (81.0)	30.8 (87.4)	31.8 (89.2)	30.7 (87.3)	26.5 (79.7)	19.3 (66.7)	10.3 (50.5)	3.7 (38.7)	18.6 (65.4)
Daily mean °C (°F)	−2.7 (27.1)	0.6 (33.1)	7.5 (45.5)	15.1 (59.2)	21.3 (70.3)	25.3 (77.5)	27.2 (81.0)	26.1 (79.0)	21.2 (70.2)	13.8 (56.8)	5.2 (41.4)	−1.0 (30.2)	13.3 (55.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	−6.9 (19.6)	−4.2 (24.4)	1.9 (35.4)	9.0 (48.2)	15.1 (59.2)	20.0 (68.0)	23.0 (73.4)	22.0 (71.6)	16.3 (61.3)	8.8 (47.8)	0.7 (33.3)	−5.0 (23.0)	8.4 (47.1)
Record low °C (°F)	−22.8 (−9.0)	−27.4 (−17.3)	−15 (5)	−3.2 (26.2)	2.5 (36.5)	9.8 (49.6)	15.3 (59.5)	11.4 (52.5)	3.7 (38.7)	−3.5 (25.7)	−12.3 (9.9)	−18.3 (−0.9)	−27.4 (−17.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	2.2 (0.09)	5.8 (0.23)	8.6 (0.34)	21.7 (0.85)	36.1 (1.42)	72.4 (2.85)	169.7 (6.68)	113.4 (4.46)	53.7 (2.11)	28.7 (1.13)	13.5 (0.53)	2.2 (0.09)	528 (20.78)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm)	1.6	2.3	3.0	4.7	6.0	10.0	11.9	10.5	7.1	5.2	2.9	1.6	66.8
Average snowy days	2.8	2.5	1.3	0.1	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.7	2.8	11.2
Average relative humidity (%)	43	42	40	43	47	58	69	71	64	58	54	46	53
Mean monthly sunshine hours	188.1	189.1	231.1	243.2	265.1	221.6	190.5	205.3	206.1	199.9	173.4	177.1	2,490.5
Percent possible sunshine	62	62	62	61	59	50	42	49	56	59	59	61	57
Average ultraviolet index	2	3	4	6	8	9	9	8	6	4	2	1	5
Source 1: China Meteorological Administration^[83]^[84]
Source 2: Extremes^{[lower-alpha 4]} and Weather Atlas^[88]

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Note

/beɪˈdʒɪŋ/ bay-JING,^[7]^[8] Chinese: 北京; pinyin: Běijīng; Mandarin pronunciation: [pèɪ.tɕíŋ] ^ⓘ
^[9] (/piːˈkɪŋ/ pee-KING),^[10]
When Europeans first came into sustained contact with China, "Pekin" and "Peking" were the most popular ways of romanizing the name of Beijing.^[58]^[59]
All-time record high;^[82] February record high;^[85] May record high;^[86] June record high^[87]

More information Climate data for Chaoyang District (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1981–2010), Month ...

Climate data for Chaoyang District (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1981–2010)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	14.7 (58.5)	20.4 (68.7)	29.2 (84.6)	32.5 (90.5)	38.7 (101.7)	39.7 (103.5)	41.0 (105.8)	37.4 (99.3)	34.8 (94.6)	30.8 (87.4)	22.0 (71.6)	18.7 (65.7)	41.0 (105.8)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	2.3 (36.1)	6.2 (43.2)	13.2 (55.8)	21.1 (70.0)	27.2 (81.0)	30.7 (87.3)	31.7 (89.1)	30.7 (87.3)	26.4 (79.5)	19.3 (66.7)	10.3 (50.5)	3.7 (38.7)	18.6 (65.4)
Daily mean °C (°F)	−3.0 (26.6)	0.3 (32.5)	7.3 (45.1)	15.0 (59.0)	21.1 (70.0)	24.9 (76.8)	26.8 (80.2)	25.7 (78.3)	20.6 (69.1)	13.2 (55.8)	4.7 (40.5)	−1.3 (29.7)	12.9 (55.3)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	−7.5 (18.5)	−4.8 (23.4)	1.2 (34.2)	8.3 (46.9)	14.3 (57.7)	19.2 (66.6)	22.4 (72.3)	21.3 (70.3)	15.5 (59.9)	7.7 (45.9)	−0.2 (31.6)	−5.6 (21.9)	7.7 (45.8)
Record low °C (°F)	−19.4 (−2.9)	−17.5 (0.5)	−11.7 (10.9)	−2.9 (26.8)	3.7 (38.7)	9.3 (48.7)	14.2 (57.6)	13.3 (55.9)	4.3 (39.7)	−4.9 (23.2)	−13.2 (8.2)	−17.8 (0.0)	−19.4 (−2.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	2.3 (0.09)	5.3 (0.21)	8.1 (0.32)	22.1 (0.87)	36.4 (1.43)	80.8 (3.18)	183.9 (7.24)	138.6 (5.46)	59.5 (2.34)	29.3 (1.15)	13.8 (0.54)	1.9 (0.07)	582 (22.9)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm)	1.5	2.3	2.8	4.7	5.9	10.1	12.8	10.5	7.3	4.9	2.9	1.7	67.4
Average snowy days	2.7	2.3	1.1	0.2	0	0	0	0	0	0	1.7	2.6	10.6
Average relative humidity (%)	43	42	41	43	49	60	72	73	68	63	57	47	55
Mean monthly sunshine hours	179.1	179.8	222.4	237.6	263.5	219.7	181.5	193.6	201.1	193.3	159.0	164.6	2,395.2
Percent possible sunshine	60	59	60	59	59	49	40	46	54	57	54	57	55
Source: China Meteorological Administration^[89]^[90]

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More information Climate data for Haidian District (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1981–2010), Month ...

Climate data for Haidian District (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1981–2010)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	14.2 (57.6)	19.8 (67.6)	28.7 (83.7)	33.1 (91.6)	38.2 (100.8)	40.1 (104.2)	41.7 (107.1)	38.4 (101.1)	35.2 (95.4)	30.7 (87.3)	22.7 (72.9)	19.6 (67.3)	41.7 (107.1)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	2.7 (36.9)	6.5 (43.7)	13.4 (56.1)	21.3 (70.3)	27.6 (81.7)	31.0 (87.8)	32.0 (89.6)	31.2 (88.2)	26.8 (80.2)	19.5 (67.1)	10.6 (51.1)	4.0 (39.2)	18.9 (66.0)
Daily mean °C (°F)	−2.7 (27.1)	0.6 (33.1)	7.4 (45.3)	15.1 (59.2)	21.2 (70.2)	25.1 (77.2)	26.9 (80.4)	25.9 (78.6)	20.8 (69.4)	13.3 (55.9)	4.9 (40.8)	−1.1 (30.0)	13.1 (55.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	−7.1 (19.2)	−4.3 (24.3)	1.8 (35.2)	8.8 (47.8)	14.8 (58.6)	19.7 (67.5)	22.6 (72.7)	21.6 (70.9)	15.9 (60.6)	8.3 (46.9)	0.3 (32.5)	−5.2 (22.6)	8.1 (46.6)
Record low °C (°F)	−20.2 (−4.4)	−15.7 (3.7)	−10.7 (12.7)	−2.7 (27.1)	3.4 (38.1)	10.5 (50.9)	15.8 (60.4)	13.9 (57.0)	4.0 (39.2)	−3.5 (25.7)	−10.8 (12.6)	−15.7 (3.7)	−20.2 (−4.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	2.1 (0.08)	5.6 (0.22)	9.6 (0.38)	21.6 (0.85)	34.7 (1.37)	84.8 (3.34)	209.5 (8.25)	119.7 (4.71)	53.3 (2.10)	27.8 (1.09)	15.1 (0.59)	2.5 (0.10)	586.3 (23.08)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm)	1.3	2.3	2.8	4.5	6.1	10.3	13.1	11.0	7.5	5.0	3.0	1.5	68.4
Average snowy days	2.4	2.2	1.1	0.1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1.5	2.4	9.7
Average relative humidity (%)	43	42	41	43	48	60	72	73	67	62	56	46	54
Mean monthly sunshine hours	183.1	183.6	220.2	233.1	250.5	203.2	170.2	186.9	194.8	188.8	166.0	169.9	2,350.3
Percent possible sunshine	61	60	59	58	56	45	38	44	53	55	56	59	54
Source: China Meteorological Administration^[91]^[92]

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More information Climate data for Beijing Capital International Airport (2013–2022 normals, extremes 2013–present), Month ...

Climate data for Beijing Capital International Airport (2013–2022 normals, extremes 2013–present)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	13.0 (55.4)	26.0 (78.8)	27.0 (80.6)	35.0 (95.0)	42.0 (107.6)	41.0 (105.8)	40.0 (104.0)	38.0 (100.4)	37.0 (98.6)	30.0 (86.0)	21.0 (69.8)	15.0 (59.0)	42.0 (107.6)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	2.7 (36.9)	6.0 (42.8)	14.1 (57.4)	21.5 (70.7)	27.4 (81.3)	30.8 (87.4)	31.5 (88.7)	30.9 (87.6)	27.2 (81.0)	19.1 (66.4)	10.7 (51.3)	4.3 (39.7)	18.8 (65.9)
Daily mean °C (°F)	−3.4 (25.9)	−0.4 (31.3)	8.1 (46.6)	15.4 (59.7)	21.4 (70.5)	25.3 (77.5)	27.0 (80.6)	26.1 (79.0)	21.1 (70.0)	12.5 (54.5)	4.4 (39.9)	−2.2 (28.0)	12.9 (55.3)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	−7.4 (18.7)	−5.2 (22.6)	2.3 (36.1)	8.3 (46.9)	14.1 (57.4)	19.2 (66.6)	22.6 (72.7)	21.4 (70.5)	16.1 (61.0)	7.9 (46.2)	0.6 (33.1)	−6.2 (20.8)	7.8 (46.0)
Record low °C (°F)	−23.0 (−9.4)	−16.0 (3.2)	−12.0 (10.4)	−2.0 (28.4)	2.0 (35.6)	11.0 (51.8)	16.0 (60.8)	11.0 (51.8)	6.0 (42.8)	−3.0 (26.6)	−12.0 (10.4)	−22.0 (−7.6)	−23.0 (−9.4)
Average relative humidity (%)	46	44	42	43	47	58	72	71	68	64	57	46	55
Source: ^[93]

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