Here before us lies \u77f3\u58c1\u6d41\u6dd9. What stories do these stones hold? Beijing’s history stretches back 3000 years. It rivals London in age. It dwarfs New York and Sydney.
Beijing wasn’t always Beijing. It was once called Jicheng. It was also known as Yanjing. Nanjing was another name. Zhongdu and Dadu also existed. Beijing became its 16th name in 1403.
Six times Beijing has served as a capital. The Yan State made it their capital in 221 BC. The Yuan Dynasty followed in 1271. The Ming Dynasty chose it in 1402. The Qing Dynasty continued this tradition in 1644. Even the Republic of China called it capital in 1912. Finally, in 1949, the People’s Republic of China was inaugurated here.
The Jin Dynasty, ruled by Jurchen people, used Confucian ideas to build Zhongdu. City gates were named after virtues. Ren, yi, li, and zhi were represented. The Duanli Gate was a southern gate. Archaeologists recently found a gate from this era.
Beijing is home to seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Great Wall is one. The Forbidden City is another. The Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven also exist. So do the Ming Tombs and Peking Man Site. Don’t forget the Grand Canal.
Beijing stands as a cultural hub. Imperial architecture like the Forbidden City is amazing. Hutong lanes with courtyard houses are charming. Beijing opera excites the senses. Peking roast duck tantalizes taste buds.
Beijing ranks as China’s second-largest city. Its municipality holds over 22.5 million people. This spreads across 16,800 square kilometers.
This city’s dialect became standard Mandarin. However, Beijing retains its own unique sounds. Locals add an “er” to the end of words.
Fresh stories of Beijing’s past emerge constantly. Archaeologists work hard. They uncover details from the Western Zhou Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty. Beijing’s history as a capital spans over 870 years.