As the capital city of the People's Republic of China (PRC), Beijing is a fast growing city. With a population of 12 million, Beijing has become a pleasant place for foreign business and visitors. It is a monolithic showcase that can give a distorted view of China to foreign visitors. Beijing is a modern city with high-rise buildings, shopping malls and vast international hotels connected by an intricate freeway system crisscrossing the city. However, the modern buildings conceal traditional hutongs, parks, numerous architectural treasure and exquisite yellow-tiled temples. Beijing became China's capital in 1421 and remained so until the collapse of the imperial regime in 1911. It was not until the late 19th century that Westerners were allowed to reside there and all trading links had previously been restricted to only Canton. From 1911 to 1949 Beijing suffered, as did the rest of China, from the wars fought between various factions trying to take control of the whole country. The Japanese invasion in 1931 was followed by a bitter civil war from 1945 to 1949, which finally led to Communist supremacy under Mao Zedong and the founding of the People's Republic of China with Beijing as the capital. At the moment, after so many years of both bitter Cultural Revolution and advancing development, Beijing has become a thriving commercial and stable political capital city, also a place for both Chinese and foreigners for business explore and holiday travel due to the political & economic reforms and opening up.