At the very heart of Beijing, the Palace Museum is China's largest of all the ancient buildings.

The thunderstorm was heaviest in Beijing's central and southern districts, which saw an average of 9 millimeters of rain.

Freshly-made jiao zi can be found at many ordinary snack shops, such as the Shun Yi Fu, a small, clean and delightful establishment in an alley that runs off Wangfujing in central Beijing.