U.S. Embassy And Consulates In China

The US Embassy in Beijing serves as the bilateral mission between China and the United States, housing more than 20 federal agencies. The various offices are listed under Sections. For Visa and American Citizens’ Services also see separate sections in main menu of this site. Diplomatic relations between China and the United States date back to 18th century, which makes China one of the countries in Asia with the longest diplomatic ties to the United States. See the Office of the Historian for more background information on U.S. diplomatic history or visit our History of the U.S. and China page. **EMBASSY COMPLEX** Completed in 2008, the main U.S. Embassy compound in Beijing, China, is a secure, state-of-the-art facility located northeast of the Forbidden City in Beijing’s Third Diplomatic Enclave. The Department of State’s second-largest overseas construction project, it is a beautiful integration of Eastern and Western design traditions. The planning for this compound started in the mid-1990s to solve the logistical issues, security concerns, and increasing demand for consular services in Beijing. The Department of State sought to obtain the “best of American architecture” through a Federal Design Excellence program competition. The winning design of Skidmore, Owings Merrill, LLP, Architects (SOM) resulted in the energy-efficient and sustainable building standing in Beijing today. Eastern and Western aesthetics were considered not only in the building and landscape design, but also in the selection of artwork displayed throughout the Embassy. The State Department’s Art in Embassies (AIE) program curated the permanent collection installed throughout the Embassy complex consisting of work by major American and Chinese artists. Additions to this collection continue to be made by the Foundation of Art and Preservation in Embassies (FAPE), including a planned installation of a site-specific Martin Puryear sculpture in 2018. The iconic Tulips sculpture by Jeff Koons is the only temporary work, currently on a 10-year loan. Situated on a 10-acre site, the Embassy consists of 6 buildings, including a new annex completed in 2016, and houses more than 1,300 American and locally hired staff representing almost 50 different federal agencies. The size and the scope of the U.S. Mission in China reflect both the importance of the U.S.-China bilateral relationship and the range of topics in which the two countries are currently engaged.