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The Natural Environment

Beijing covers nearly 16,808 square kilometres (sq.km.). Mountainous areas, which surround Beijing from the west to the northeast, occupy more than 10,417 sq.km of area and account for 62 percent of the city's total landmass. The remaining 6,390 sq.km area consists of flat terrain, a part of the North China or Middle Plain.

Located at 39 degrees 56 minutes north latitude and at 116 degrees 20 minutes east longitude, Beijing finds itself in a warm, temperate zone with a semi-humid climate. It has four distinctive seasons, with a short spring and autumn, and a long summer and winter. The weather in spring is usually pleasant, but it can be very dry, with occassional wild sand storms. Summer is hot and humid with an average temperature of 32 degrees Celsius (90 F) in July. Winters are very cold and dry, sometimes accompanied by windy cold fronts, with average temperatures reaching -10 C (14 F) in January.

The best season for travel is at the turn of summer and autumn, in September and October, when temperatures cool down to 15-20 C (59-68 F). In autumn, jeans and sweaters can be worn. In the warmer months, T-shirts and light trousers or shorts are the best choice.