Beijing City Life Photos -- National Geographic's Ultimate City Guides

Cyclists Near Billboard
Photograph by Guang Niu/Getty Images
Cyclists park beneath a billboard advertising sport shoes, a reflection of China's burgeoning economy.
Railway Station
Photograph by Mark Leong/Redux
The centrally located Beijing Railway Station (Beijing Zhan), built in the 1950s, blends Chinese and Soviet design.
Golf Lessons
Photograph by Mark Leong/Redux
Deemed a skill for future businessmen, golf is a mandatory class at the Beijing Intelligence and Capability Kindergarten.
Internet Bar
Photograph by Mark Leong/Redux
At 520 Virtual Game World, one of the city's biggest Internet bars, a patron sits at one of over 300 terminals.
Office Worker at Lunch
Photograph by Mark Leong/Redux
An office worker grabs a bite at KFC, a highly popular fast-food franchise in China, along with McDonald's.
Playing Mah-Jong
Photograph by Mark Leong/Redux
Neighbors in one of the older residential areas, called hutongs, play mah-jong even as nearby houses are demolished.
Subway
Photograph by Mark Leong/Redux
A rabbit character walks the streets near a Beijing subway stop to advertise a local shopping center.
Young Girl at Kite Stand
Photograph by Guang Niu/Getty Images
A young girl eats lunch at her family's kite stand, one of the city's countless sidewalk emporiums.
Women at Gymnasium
Photograph by Guang Niu/Getty Images
Hip-hop-dancing grandmothers practice at a local gymnasium, where over 50 participants meet twice a week.
Auto Expo
Photograph by Guang Niu/Getty Images
A visitor checks out a car at the fourth annual China International Auto Accessories and Customization Expo.