Beijing(/beɪˈdʒɪŋ/bay-JING;[9][10]Chinese:北京;pinyin:Běijīng;Mandarin pronunciation:[pèɪ.tɕíŋ](listen)),alternatively romanizedasPeking[11](/piːˈkɪŋ/pee-KING),[12]is thecapitalof thePeople's Republic of China. It is the world'smost populous national capital city, with over 21 million residents within anadministrative areaof 16,410.5km2(6336 sq. mi.).[13]Nevertheless, its built-up area, the third largest in China afterGuangzhouandShanghai, is slightly bigger, including three districts inHebei(Sanhe,Dachang HuiandZhuozhou) being conurbated but withMiyunandPingguDistricts in Beijing not agglomerated yet.[14]It is located inNorthern China, and is governed as amunicipalityunder the direct administration of theState Councilwith16 urban, suburban, and rural districts.[15]Beijing is mostly surrounded by Hebei Province with the exception of neighboringTianjinto the southeast; together, the three divisions form theJingjinjimegalopolisand thenational capital regionof China.[16]