BIG? ……..NO! HUGE!
Beijing currently has a population of just over 24 million. And it will not stop at that. In fact, with the project of regrouping Beijing with the neighboring province of Heibei and the port of Tianjin, the population would rise to a hundred million inhabitants. Mind blowing. Up to the mark of Xi Jin Ping's projects for China.
Despite this, like Shanghai, Beijing has great respect for its heritage. Between Buddhist temples, ancient neighborhoods and the brutalist architecture of official buildings, it is still in Beijing that one can at the best experience the culture, but also the power of China. Not forgetting, of course, the Forbidden City, the Tien An Men Square and the Great Wall. Classics.
As much as Shanghai likes to define itself and shine like an "international modern city", as much Beijing declines its Chinese identity very differently.
ECOLOGY
Yes, pollution is a huge problem in China. Checking the levels of pollution before leaving home is part of the daily routine, as is purifying the air in your apartment and to filter the water because it’s too polluted. But, initiatives are gradually bearing fruit. Nearly 50 million trees have already been planted around Beijing alone, and in Xi'an, for example, the world's largest air purifier is as tall as a skyscraper.