[Photo by Chen Fenglin]

Shijingshan District, an urban district in central Beijing, is located at the western end of Chang'an Avenue and 14 kilometers away from Tian'anmen Square. Reputed as the "western gate of the capital city", the district covers an area of 84.38 square kilometers and had a permanent resident population of 563,000 by the end of 2022. Shijingshan is backed by Daxi Mountain and bordered by the Yongding River, with the Xishan (Western Hills)-Yongding River Cultural Belt spanning across the entire district. It is renowned for naturally beautiful landscapes and enjoys the reputation of being "half the landscape and half the city". In 2017, the Master Plan of Development for Beijing clearly defined Shijingshan's roles as "three areas", namely a "national-level industrial transformation and development demonstration area", a "green and low-carbon integrated service area in the west of the capital", and an "ecological and livable demonstration area characterized by the integration of landscape and culture". In 2019, the western Beijing area, with Shijingshan as its core, was recognized as a national industrial transformation and upgrading demonstration area of China.

Shijingshan District, with an altitude of 70 to 130 meters, is higher in the north and lower in the south in terms of its topography. The mountainous area in the northwest is the ranges of the Mount Taihang, accounting for about one-third of the district area, and with more than 40 peaks standing side by side. To its south lies the time-honored and meandering Yongding River. In its middle and southeast lies the plain with monadnocks formed by the alluvial fan of the Yongding River, which is the main area for the production and life of the people in the district. Shijingshan District is located in the northern temperate zone, belonging to the warm temperate semi-humid continental monsoon climate zone.

Shijingshan District has been an important historical and cultural town in the west of Beijing since ancient times. It is not only a military and transportation fortress in the west of Beijing, but also the birthplace of Beijing's modern industry, enjoying a unique history and culture. There are many historical sites in the district, including more than 20 important modern historical sites and representatives of architecture such as the Badachu Park, which is famous for "Three Mountains, Eight Temples and Twelve Scenic Spots", the Fahai Temple, which is famous for its murals of the Ming Dynasty, the Tian Yi Tomb, an exquisite stone sculpture, the Quaternary Glacial Relics Exhibition Museum of China, and the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery.