PEKING, the capital of the Chinese empire, is situated near 40' N. lat., and between 116' and 117' E. long., in a level plain, which on the west of the town assumes an undulating surface, and at some distance from it rises into low hills. It is about 80 miles south from the nearest partof the Great Wall. The river Pei-ho, which falls into the Yellow Sea about 100 miles below Peking, runs at some distance on the west but is connected with the town by means of a canal, and servos as the medium of a large commerce. The city consists of two parts and of several suburbs. The most ancient part is the northern, called the town of the Tartar; or city of Nine Gates, a large portion of the centre of which is occupied by the palace and gardens of the emperor; the southern, or city of the Chinese, is the scat of commerce, of the larger part of the population, and is less strictly guarded than the other. The circumference of the united towns is estimated by Sir J. F. Davis (' Sketches of China ') at 25 miles; the whole is sur rounded by a wall 40 feet high, and surmouuted by a parapet deeply crenated, but without regular embmzures; the merlons contain loop holes for archers. The thickness of the walls is about 20 feet at the base, and 12 across the terrepleine upon which the parapet is erected. The outside of the walls, though not perfectly perpendicular, is smooth, but the inside has a considerable bevel, the rows of bricks which form it being placed like steps, one above and behind the other, like the steps on the faces of the Great Pyramid of Egypt In some parts there are slopes of earth, on which the cavalry can ascend the walls, on which several horsemen can ride abreast The walla are flanked on the outside by square towers, at about 60 yards distance from each other, and projecting 40 or 50 feet from the curtain between them. Sixteen gates lead to the town. Over each gate is a watch tower, nine etories high, and in each story are port-holes for cannon. The lowest story forms a largo hall for the officers and soldiers on guard. Round the gate, on the outside, is a semicircular wall, inclos ing a space about 360 feet long, which serves for a parade. In this semicircular wall there is a lateral gate, by which the troops can enter the parade without marching on the high road.
The roads leading to the city are paved with blocks of granite ; tho streets are not paved, but are constantly watered to keep down the dust. The principal streets vary from 140 to 200 feet in breadth, but they contain no large buildings; the houses ere usually not higher than one story, and few have two stories. The streets are lined with a continuous aeries of shops, in which the goods are laid out with great order. The wooden columns in front of the shops are painted red, blue, and sometime, are gilt. In several places triumphal arches cross the streets. They are built of wood, and consist of three hand some gateways, of which the middle is the highest and largest, and over them aro three roofs richly decorated. Public edifices and also the dwelling-houses of private persons occur only in the narrow streets and lanes. Where these lanes open into the .wider streets there are generally gates, which are shut at night and opened only in case of need. The private dwellings do not embellish the town, as they aro separated from it by walls or curtains, to prevent passengers from seeing the court into which the street-door opens. They are built of brick; and have a roof of gray tiles.
Peking became the capital of China after the expulsion of the Mongols, and the accession of the dynasty of Ming. As tho seat of government, it contains the great offices for the admiuistration of the empire, which are situated, for the sake of convenience, near the southern gate of the imperial palace ; the national college, and the imperial printing-office. The population has been very variously esti mated, but it probably amounts to 2,000,000. Under the article CHINA a entice is given of the insurrection which broke out in 1851, and in 1854 had threatened the safety of Peking : in March 1855 the insur gents had not succeeded is capturing Peking, having turned their forces more against Canton, but they still retained possession of all the places previously taken by them, from which the imperialists had in vain endeavoured to expel them.