Madrid and Chicago

City of Chicago

Government

Mayor Richard Michael Daley (Democratic Party, United States, 1989 -now). The city of Chicago is divided into 50 districts. Each district elects a senator to form the Municipal Senate. The mayor and the Municipal Senate jointly participate in city management. The mayor and aldermen serve four-year terms.

Area

The urban area is 606.2 square kilometers. The land area is 588.3 square kilometers and the water area is 17.9 square kilometers. The city covers an area of ??5,498.1 square kilometers. The Chicago metropolitan area is 28,163 square kilometers.

Altitude

The average altitude is 179 meters (586 feet). The highest altitude is the southern suburban landfill, with an altitude of 224 meters.

Population

The urban population is 2.8333 million (in 2006, the third largest city in the United States, second only to New York and Los Angeles). The population density is 4,816 people/square kilometer. The urban population is 8.711 million, and the metropolitan population is 9.5058 million.

Ethnicity

Chicago is a multiracial city. Early immigrants included Irish, Swedes, Poles, Italians, Germans and Chinese. Among them, 38.6 are black, 37.9 are white, 19.6 are Spanish-speaking, and 3.5 are Asian. The total number of Chinese in the greater Chicago area is approximately 60,000.

Chicago is located in the center of the North American continent in the state of Illinois, USA. It is the largest city in the Midwestern United States, with nearly 3 million people living here. Chicago is the third largest city in the United States. The Greater Chicago area composed of Chicago and its suburbs has a population of more than 9.7 million. It is the third largest metropolitan area in the United States after New York City and Los Angeles.

Chicago is the most important railway and aviation hub in the United States. Chicago is also one of the major financial, cultural, manufacturing, futures and commodity trading centers in the United States. Since its founding in 1833, after more than a hundred years of development, Chicago has gradually become one of the most influential metropolises in the world. This seductive metropolis has been called the most American city in the United States, integrating the cultural and culinary landscapes of the Midwest with the world's legacy.

Norman Mailer once wrote: "Chicago is a great American city, perhaps the only remaining great city in the United States." Chicago is also known as one of the ten richest cities in the world, and its skyline is one of the top ten in the world. The city of Chicago was rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1871. The number of skyscrapers in the district is second only to New York. Three of the five tallest skyscrapers in the world today are in Chicago. The Sears Tower in the city center is the tallest building in the United States, with a height of 443 meters.

Chicago Today

The current Mayor Richard M. Daley is the son of the former Mayor Richard J. Daley. His policies focus on improving Chicago’s Environmental quality, a number of projects have been implemented to revitalize declining neighborhoods, improve urban infrastructure, and urban landscape along lakes and rivers. Chicago is currently preparing to bid to host the 2016 Olympic Games.

Geographical environment

Busty Chicago - Chicago River geographical location

The city of Chicago is located in the northeastern part of Illinois, USA, on the southwest shore of Lake Michigan, one of the five Great Lakes in the United States. It is customarily divided into north, west and south, with a length of 40.23 kilometers from north to south and a width of 24.14 kilometers from east to west. According to the U.S. Bureau of Investigation, the total area of ??Chicago is 606.1 square kilometers, of which 588.3 square kilometers are land and 17.8 square kilometers are water. The water area accounts for approximately 2.94 of the total area.

Climate Environment

Chicago’s climate has four distinct seasons throughout the year. July, the hottest month of the year, has an average maximum temperature of 29°C and an average minimum temperature of 17°C; while January, the coldest month, has an average maximum temperature of 2°C and an average minimum temperature of -11°C.

The highest temperature recorded in history is 40°C (July 24, 1934) and the lowest temperature is -32°C (January 20, 1985).

Due to the influence of Lake Michigan, Chicago is windy in winter and is known as the "Windy City". The temperature in Chicago is suitable, with the average temperature in January being 6°C, April 9°C, July 22.8°C, and October 11.4°C.

Chicago has abundant rainfall, with an average annual precipitation of 965 mm. Summer is the season with the most precipitation. Precipitation is usually in the form of thunderstorms or showers, and continuous precipitation is rare. Winter has the least precipitation, usually in the form of snow. The maximum single-day precipitation was 164 mm recorded on August 14, 1987.

"Windy City"

Visitors coming to Chicago are advised to bring more clothes to adapt to the climate characteristics here. This city is famous for its strong winds and is known as "The Windy City". If you happen to encounter the biting cold wind blowing from Lake Michigan at a road intersection in January, you will understand the weight of this nickname. Wind is not the only climate characteristic of Chicago. It is also famous for its large temperature difference. In winter, the temperature can be lower than minus 30 degrees Celsius, and in summer, the temperature can be higher than 40 degrees Celsius. There are records. If you come to Chicago in the winter and encounter particularly warm weather, don’t mistakenly think that Chicago’s winter is as warm as spring. The weather here is changeable. Electric report boards are often seen on the road, showing the time on the top and the temperature on the bottom. Changing it every minute may also be related to the unpredictable weather.

Administrative divisions

The urban area of ??Chicago is very large and can be roughly divided into four large areas: central, north, west and south (the east is the Great Lakes). There are two major commercial districts in the city center, one is called the Loop and the other is Michigan Avenue. The northern part is a high-end residential area for the wealthy white class. The black people, who account for 40% of the population, are mainly distributed in the western and southern parts. The city center is called the Loop, which means ring road area. It is named after it is located within the rectangular ring road surrounded by the elevated railway (the above-ground part of the subway). Its scope is more than one kilometer long and spans seven blocks; it is less than one kilometer wide and spans five blocks. Although it is a small place, Chicagoans praise it as "the richest area in the world" and "the busiest area in the world."

[Edit this paragraph] 4. Urban scenery

Overlooking the Aon Center and Sears Tower from the John Hancock Center. In 1891, the British writer Kipling came to Chicago. Everywhere I went, I was deeply attracted by the city's architecture, transportation, livestock farms and the pure sound of the city. "I encountered a city—a real city," he said, "and people call it Chicago." Chicago in the 21st century is still so real—it's just not the place Kipling visited. This city is no longer the pork shop of the world. Instead of the smog and gloom of the past, there are the best parks and gardens in the world since the Babylonians built the Hanging Gardens. Yet the city's vibrant bustle and bustle continue to shape it. Chicago remains a city of athletes (a reference to the Chicago Bulls), bears and bulls (a reference to the Chicago Board of Trade), but it also has an emotional side. To experience this side of Chicago, you have to go to the new Millennium Park to experience the shell-shaped open-air concert hall designed by architect Frank Gehry, which is full of the elegance of stainless steel; or use your toes to feel Michigan The warmth of the lakeshore beach. These are just the starters for a meal told by the people who know Chicago best—its friendly and opinionated citizens. Local book reviewer Danny Bostel said: "In California, people want to hug you; in Chicago, people want to talk to you." It's not surprising that the precious heritage of America's third-largest city is far ahead. "City" can reach it.

To name a few: the Art Institute of Chicago (which houses Grant Wood’s famous painting “American Gothic”), Navy Pier (where you can board a ferry for sightseeing or go to the Enjoy a performance at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater), and Hyde Park (home to Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic Robbie House).

"Convention City"

Chicago is not only conveniently located and has convenient transportation, but also has many hotels and good conference facilities. It is known as "the world's major conference city" and is often cited by the Democratic Party. Or the *** and the party choose to be the venue for holding the nomination meeting. More than a dozen U.S. presidents were nominated here, such as Lincoln, two Roosevelts, Eisenhower and Clinton. To the south of the city is the McCormick Place, the world's largest convention center. The Maxwell Hall (Don Maxwell Hall) here can hold a conference of 40,000 people, and has 8 restaurants attached, which can accommodate 20,000 guests at the same time. There are also 28 small and medium-sized conference halls, which can accommodate 50 to 4,000 people, and an exhibition area of ??100,000 square meters to accommodate meetings. Chicago also hosted two World's Fairs. One was the Columbian Exposition held in Jackson Park in 1893, and the other was the Century of Progress Exposition held in Bonnham Park from 1933 to 1934.

A snapshot of the city

La Salle to the west of the "Magnificent Mile" is Chicago's "Wall Street", where banks gather and the Midwest Stock Exchange is also located here. Not far to the north, in the Civic Center Square, stands Picasso's giant steel sculpture, about 5 stories high. It is the master's unique work, but its shape is strange and difficult to understand. The State Street area to the east is the most prosperous. The city is open all day long here, and movie theaters and restaurants are open all night. Several major department stores are world-class. Among them, Marshall Field is the most famous. Its American flag is hung outside the store during celebrations and holidays. It hangs from the seventh floor to the bottom. Each star and stripe is 1.2 meters wide, which is regarded as the "world's largest flag." Although the busiest area in Chicago is the Loop, the most beautiful area in the city is Michigan Avenue, which is as wide and luxurious as the Champs Elysées in Paris and is known as the "Magnificent Mile" ( Magnificent Mile) As the name suggests, this is the most exclusive area in the city. Luxurious hotels, fashionable shops, and splendid buildings all come here to gather. There is a constant flow of cars on the road, coming and going. At night, the skyscrapers are brightly lit, and the silhouettes of the buildings outline a majestic skyline in the sky. The pointed roofs of several tall buildings also shine with the flickering light of searchlights, as if giants are blinking. In Lake Michigan, sailing yachts and motorboats float leisurely in the distance, dragging waves rolled up from their tails. This urban night scene, where movement and stillness intertwine, is truly unforgettable. At the north end of Michigan Avenue stands the antique Chicago Water Tower. Among the skyscrapers, this 42-meter-high water tower looks small, but it is a symbol of Chicago's history. It was built in 1869. The entire water tower is made of yellow stones. Opposite the Water Tower, a tall building stands out like a chicken, named Water Tower Place. In fact, it has nothing to do with the water tower. It just borrows its name from the water tower near the place. This building is 74 stories high, with hotel apartments on top and the most luxurious high-rise shopping mall in the United States on the 8 floors below, covering an area of ??200,000 square meters, including two large department stores, 125 stores, 11 restaurants and 7 movie theaters. The biggest feature of this shopping mall is its prominent vertical design, with trees and flowers planted indoors, which is clean and comfortable. In the combination of colors, lights and green leaves, customers will be involuntarily attracted to shopping malls on each floor, some along the Elevators go up and down parallel to the man-made waterfall, and some take the transparent glass elevator with a steel frame. Chicago has vast green spaces and numerous parks.

The largest one is Lincoln Park on the city's northern lakeshore. It stretches seven or eight miles along the lake and covers an area of ??nearly 500 hectares. It is larger than New York's Central Park. The closest to the city center is Grant Park, which was created along the lake from debris cleared from the Great Chicago Fire. The Buckingham Fountain in the park is the largest illuminated fountain in the world, fully twice the size of the Grand Fountain of the Palace of Versailles in France. Its base is made of pink marble, and the diameter of the pool is 85 meters. Hundreds of water sprays shot from all around to the center, and a water column in the center sprayed forty or fifty meters high. At night, lights of various colors shine up from the bottom of the spring. The lights and water are as colorful as fireworks in the sky and corals on the seabed. The colors are magnificent and spectacular. Visitors to Chicago must visit South Chinatown. The main street in Chinatown is Wentowrth Avenue. As soon as you arrive at the entrance, you will see a large archway with the words "The world is for the public" on the outside and "Rituals, justice and integrity" on the inside. Most of the shops on the street are restaurants, followed by gift shops and Nanhuo stores. Next to the big archway, it is called Anliang Gongshuo, which is where the Chamber of Commerce is located. It is a very elegant building in Chinatown. The sightseeing buses in Chicago are all part of the Chinatown sightseeing program. In addition to having a Chinese meal, the Anliang Guild Building is a must-see. The Chinese Association here is also very impressive. In 1990, a new library was added to Chinatown, covering an area of ??more than 1,000 square meters. It collects many Chinese and English books, including 200 kinds of magazines, and even several kinds of CD-ROM reference tools, which are displayed in the library. . In recent years, Chinatown has developed to Archer Avenue north of Wingwood Street, and many new shops have been built, including World Bookstore.

The Loop

Begin your day with a meal at Wishbone (1001 W. Washington St.), an up-and-coming restaurant in the West Loop breakfast. Not only is this a home for Southern-style food (a variety of diced cheese is a favorite here), but it's also a great place to people-watch. Then, visit the majestic Art Institute of Chicago (111 S. Michigan Ave.) for its permanent collection of masterpieces and special exhibitions. Don’t miss the museum’s well-stocked craft shop (to the right of the entrance) . Across Michigan Avenue, there are two more special stores. Hiking enthusiasts should check out Savvy Traveller (310 S. Michigan Ave.), which specializes in travel guides and maps, and the Chicago Architecture Foundation Shop (224 S. Michigan). Ave.) is filled with beautiful artifacts showing off Chicago’s great architecture.

Speaking of great buildings, stop by Marshall Field’s (111 N. State St.) for lunch in the Walnut Room. The interior decoration of the building is dazzling. The 557-square-meter large glass dome designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany and other designs remind people of the nobility and elegance of the old commercial era. Then, hike up to the Sears Tower (233 S. Wacker Dr.) for a bird's-eye view of the city from the tallest building in the country. Back above ground, sip a cocktail at Berghoff (17 W. Adams St.), a restaurant with a German flavor in both its atmosphere and menu, or head to Trader Vic's (located on the ground floor of the famous Palmer House Hilton). 17 E. Monroe St.) Try the comeback of Bamboo Tiki.

For dinner, if you're headed to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (220 S. Michigan Ave.), try Rhapsody (65 E. Adams St.), an elegant bar and restaurant next door to the Symphony Center. Another option is to try American-style cuisine at Atwood Cafe (One W. Washington St.; 3681900), located in a Buckingham restaurant.

Financial Finance

Chicago City of Chicago is a leading region in the steel industry, machinery manufacturing, agricultural technology, trade, culture and education. Chicago's industries are dominated by steel, metal, food processing, electronics, petroleum processing, printing and transportation machinery and equipment industries. The steel industry ranks first in the United States, with the famous U.S. Steel Company and Calais Steel Works. Meat processing also ranks first in the country. Among the 500 largest companies in the United States, 33 are headquartered in Chicago and nearby areas. The more important ones include Motorola, Amoco and Inland Steel Company.

Chicago is an important financial center in the Midwest of the United States and one of the world's financial centers. The Chicago Stock Exchange is the largest stock exchange in the United States after New York City. The "Chicago Mercantile Exchange", "Chicago Board of Trade" and "Chicago Board of Trade" are world-famous. "Chicago Mercantile Exchange" is the world's largest fragile goods trading market and is second to none among financial trading venues in the world. The trading volume of the Chicago Board of Trade exceeds that of any other exchange in the United States. The Chicago Board of Trade is the world's largest and oldest futures and options trading market, and its stock trading volume ranks among the top in the United States. Chicago is home to the headquarters and branches of some of the largest banks and major financial institutions in the United States. It has more than 300 U.S. banks, 40 foreign bank branches and 16 insurance companies. These banks and financial institutions rank among the top three in the United States in terms of commercial loan amounts, and their total financial assets rank third in the U.S. Federal Reserve District. 33 of the world's Fortune 500 companies and 47 of the United States' Forbes 500 companies have settled here.

The Chicago Chamber of Commerce plays a significant role in determining grain and livestock prices across the country. Wholesalers and retailers account for a quarter of the city's employees. Grain and livestock trade are important economic bases.

The center of Chicago, the Loop, is located near the mouth of the Chicago River and is the most prosperous business district. Its area only accounts for 1% of the city's total area, but it contains about 1/6 of the city's employees. The streets of Chicago are distributed in a square grid, with dense modern high-rise buildings of different styles. The 443-meter-tall, 110-story Sears Tower is the tallest building in the United States and is the seat of Sears Roark; followed by the 346-meter-tall, 80-story Standard Oil Building and the 343.5-meter-tall, 100-story Sears Tower. Hancock Center Building, as well as Water Tower Plaza Building, First National Bank Building, etc. At the western end of the Loop, the Chicago River divides into south and north branches. The North District between the North Branch and Lake Michigan has a beautiful environment, a high-end residential area, and many cultural and entertainment facilities; the South District between the South Branch and Lake Michigan and the West District between the South and North Branches are mainly industrial areas, with black people Communal settlements, many low-standard housing. There are many parks and green spaces in Chicago, covering an area of ??nearly 5,000 hectares. The "green belt" along the lakefront is the main recreational place for citizens. There are also large areas of forest protection land on the outskirts of Chicago.

Transportation

Chicago O'Hare International Airport International Terminal 5 has a developed transportation industry, with transportation extending in all directions. It is called the "artery of the United States" and is the largest in the United States. An air transport center and railway hub, it is also the largest inland port in the world. In 1848, after the completion of the Illinois-Michigan Canal connecting the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River system and the railroad running through the east and west, Chicago became a land and water transportation hub.

There are three airports, with two international airports in the suburbs: O'Hare International Airport and Midway International Airport. Among them, O'Hare International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world. Its aircraft traffic, number of passengers, and cargo tonnage are all at the forefront of the United States and the world, and it receives 69 million passengers every year. It has 37 main railway lines, with about 35,000 trucks traveling every day. There are also 200 truck stations, four freight ports, 8 suburban railways and 1,013.8 kilometers of expressways leading to the city center, making transportation fast and convenient. The Port of Chicago is one of the largest ports in the United States, with direct access to Europe via the St. Lawrence Inland Waterway and barge transportation to the Gulf of Mexico via the Mississippi River.

Airport

Chicago O'Hare International Airport. It is one of the largest and busiest airports in the United States, with an annual passenger flow of 30-40 million.

Chicago Midway International Airport

Meigs Field (defunct)

Railway

Chicago is the largest railway hub in the United States and the gathering point for more than 30 railway lines in the north-central United States. The total length of urban railway lines is more than 12,400 kilometers and the annual freight volume is 512 million tons, ranking first among major cities in the world. Highway transportation is developed, with 12 trunk roads passing through it, making it the center of the state's highway system.

Marine transportation

Chicago is an important lake port in the Great Lakes region. Ships can go to sea through the Erie Canal, the Hudson River or the St. Lawrence River.

"Candy Capital" and "No. 1 in the World"

Chicago is the candy capital of the world. It is also home to the largest catering company (McDonald's) and the largest food processing company (McDonald's) in the United States. Kraft). Chicago birthed many world firsts, such as roller skates in 1884, elevated railways in 1892, popcorn in 1893, zippers in 1896, transparent window envelopes in 1902, and McDonald's fast food restaurants in 1955.

"International Labor Day" and "International Women's Day"

On May 1, 1886, hundreds of thousands of workers in Chicago went on strike and demonstrated for an eight-hour working day. The “May 1st” International Labor Day and the “March 8th” International Women’s Day both originated from this city with the glorious tradition of the workers’ movement.

Construction

In addition, the construction industry is also very developed. The Trade Center was built in 1930 and is the largest building in the world, covering an area of ??approximately 370,000 square meters. There are more than 60 foreign consulates general in Chicago.

Food

The status of food in Chicago has also been steadily rising. When it comes to food, Chicago is known for its generous portions and strong factionalism. "Oh my God, you should see what people say about this place," said one fan of Mr. Beef (666 N. Orleans St., a restaurant specializing in roast beef sandwiches). The level of popularity!” But this does not mean that Chicago lacks exquisite and gorgeous restaurants. Consider the table setting at Japonais (600 W. Chicago Ave.), where smartly-dressed diners sip and mingle in a restaurant that once served as a warehouse for Montgomery Ward, the world's first grocery catalog business founded in Chicago. While eating sushi, the breeze from the Chicago River ruffled the thin window screens.

Science Education

The Harper Building of the University of Chicago has developed education, culture, science and technology, journalism and entertainment, and is a higher education center in the middle of the United States. Chicago*** has 680 public schools, 394 private schools, 83 colleges and 88 libraries.

There are 559 junior high schools and high schools (including 147 private junior high schools and 29 church high schools), 19 four-year colleges and universities, and 7 two-year colleges. The colleges and universities have a full range of subjects, from basic vocational training to higher education. Science, business, technology, culture and professional preparatory courses are all available. Among them, the University of Chicago, Illinois Institute of Technology and Northwestern University are the most prestigious. The University of Chicago, founded in 1891, is one of the famous universities in the United States. Many Nobel Prize winners (such as physicists Fermi and Lee Tsung-dao) studied here. There are also two universities founded by the Catholic Church.

The University of Chicago is known as the cradle of Nobel Prize winners and has produced more than 30 Nobel Prize winners. The scientific research achievements of Argonne National Research Institute, Bell Labs, and Fermilab in the western suburbs are eye-catching in the United States and even the world. A considerable number of Chinese scholars, engineering and technical personnel work in these scientific research institutes.

Chicago also has famous universities such as the University of Illinois. Other important cultural facilities include the Art Institute, Art Museum, Museum of Science and Industry, Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium, Historical Society, etc. The ancient water tower standing in the center of the city is a historical relic that survived the Chicago fire of 1871.

Geography

The capital of Spain, the largest city in the country, the national economic and transportation center, and the capital of the Province of Madrid. The urban area is 607 square kilometers and the population is about 3.101 million. Including suburbs and satellite towns, the area is 1020 square kilometers and the population is about 4.687 million. Located in the middle of the Meseta Plateau of the Iberian Peninsula, in the intermountain plateau basin at the southeastern foothills of the Guadarrama Mountains, with an altitude of 670 meters, it is the highest capital city in Europe. Going south, it can be connected to the Strait of Gibraltar, which is limited by water on the African continent. The Pyrenees Mountains of North Vietnam can directly reach the hinterland of Europe. It is known as the "Gate to Europe" due to its important strategic location in history.

It is snowy in winter and the climate is cold. Since the beginning of summer, the temperature has increased, it rarely rains, and the sky is often blue. Local people often describe this distinctive seasonal feature as "March is like ice and September is like baking".

The terrain is blocked, the climate is continental, there is little precipitation, and the annual temperature range is large. The average temperature in January is 4.8℃, in July it is 25℃, and the annual precipitation is 425 mm.

The comprehensive economic center of Spain’s Central Economic Zone. Textile, food and other industries have been developed based on local agricultural raw materials. After the 1960s, sectors such as aircraft, automobiles, machinery and equipment, optical instruments, electronics, electrical equipment, chemicals, plastics and arms industries emerged. Due to the shortage of raw materials and fuels within the plateau, industry has developed in the direction of high-precision and comprehensive utilization. The nearby mountain basins are rich in cotton, grapes, olives, citrus and other fruits, and the natural pastures have been used to develop animal husbandry. The country's main land transportation hub. Radial railways connect Madrid with other cities in the country and coastal areas, and there are several international railways connecting France and Portugal. Barajas Airport is the largest international airport in the country. Madrid is also a major center of finance and commerce. One of the famous cultural cities in Southern Europe, it has a profound cultural tradition, but its status as the cultural center of modern Spain has been replaced by Barcelona. There are many museums in the city, including the famous Prado Museum, which mainly collects Spanish and Italian paintings from the 15th to the early 19th century, with the works of Goya and Velazquez being particularly highly regarded. Four of the many libraries are famous for their collection of manuscripts and treasures. There are also ancient buildings such as palaces. There are more than 300 squares, including the Mayor's Square (built during the rule of the Habsburg Dynasty and one of the most entertaining urban squares in Europe), La Vella Square, etc. There are many parks and green spaces, with a green area of ??28 million square meters. The city is divided into two parts: the new city and the old city. The old city was built in the 15th to 18th centuries with narrow streets; the new city was a newly built urban area in the 20th century with wide and neat streets. The modern high-rise buildings contrast sharply with the ancient pattern of the old city. The north and south of the city are mainly industrial areas and residential areas.