Covering Beijing's downtown area west of the Forbidden City, Xicheng District, the capital's political and financial center, literally means western city.

The 600 meter-wide and 1.7 km-long Financial Street of Beijing has gained prominence as an internationally influential business and financial district after two decades' of planning and development. The area earned the nickname "Golden Street" as the busiest marketplace as early as the Yuan Dynasty (1206-1368). The vigorous business atmosphere in this region in the ensuing decades led to it becoming the hub where major private banks and state-owned banks converged.

Financial enterprises on this street, which include headquarters of nine national commercial banks, altogether control 90 percent of credit money and 65 percent of premium capital in the country. Also looming large here are financial supervision agencies of the Central Government, including China's central bank, the People's Bank of China, China Securities Regulatory Commission and China Banking Regulatory Commission. In addition, many foreign investment conglomerates, such as Royal Bank of Canada, HSBC and JP Morgan can be found.

The city-center Xidan shopping street is one of the busiest streets in Beijing and a shopping paradise for tourists from across the world. Besides numerous shopping centers and department stores, Xidan also has China's largest bookstore, which sells 300,000 book, audio, video and electronic publication titles from more than 500 publishers.

Xicheng's status as the national political center is highlighted by the two landmark structures under its administration: the Great Hall of the People and the auditorium of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, where annual sessions of the National People's Congress and CPPCC are held and major decisions on the country are made.

Xicheng District abounds in historic sites and relics. There are 18 national and municipal museums in the district, along with 103 historical and cultural sites. One fourth of Beijing's cultural relics under state or municipal protection are in Xicheng. The most popular tourism spots include the best-preserved ancient royal park in the capital, Beihai Park, Jingshan, the highest location in the inner city from which to view the Forbidden City, and Shichahai, a lakeside scenic area with well-preserved mansions of royal families and residences of ordinary families.