Breathing in the cool air, imagine stepping back through Beijing’s long history to a unique place: the \u5730\u85cf\u6d1e. Beijing’s story stretches back 3,000 years. It rivals London in age and dwarfs New York and Sydney.
Beijing was not always called Beijing. Before settling on that name in 1403, it had many names. Names included Jicheng and Nanjing. Beijing means Northern Capital.
Beijing became the capital for the first time 871 years ago. The Jin Dynasty chose Beijing in 1153. They called it Zhongdu meaning the central capital.
Archaeologists recently found a gate from the Jin Zhongdu era. Ding Lina from the Beijing Institute of Archaeology said it was their first time excavating such a gate.
The gate has two piers on either side of a 6-meter doorway. There are traces of wheels and hoofs suggesting carriages and horses passed through. Outside the gate is a horseshoe-shaped wengcheng a defensive enclosure. Inside the city the remains of two streets have been found.
Guo Jingning director of the Beijing Institute of Archaeology explained that the Jin Dynasty used Confucian ideas in building Zhongdu. Gates were named after Confucian principles.
The location of the gate matches historical records. Its shape and size suggest it was the Duanli Gate. The discovery helps fill a blank in our understanding of the ancient city.
Beijing boasts many UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Great Wall is one. Ongoing archaeological work on the Jiankou Great Wall has revealed surprising details. Traces of red were found on a lookout tower window. This matches a Ming Dynasty map showing the wall painted red.
Shang Heng an associate researcher at the Beijing Institute of Archaeology said this was the first time they found red pigment on the Ming Great Wall. The major requirement of the Great Wall was that it be solid and imposing. Painting it red probably added to its grandeur.
Archaeologists also found the earliest stone tablet on the Jiankou Great Wall. It records the construction date and builders’ names. These discoveries show how archaeological work has become more precise.
Beijing also has imperial tombs from the Ming and Qing dynasties. In 2022 archaeologists discovered a new imperial graveyard at Xiangshan Mountain. Zhang Lifang an associate researcher said the graveyard has three cemetery complexes.
Based on epitaphs the eastern complex was for imperial children who died young. The middle complex belonged to Emperor Jiajing’s concubine. The western complex possibly contained tombs of several concubines buried together. Archaeologists also found sacrificial vessels and stone tables in the tombs.
Guo says this is the largest imperial tomb group excavated since the Ming tombs in Changping. The remaining layout size and artifacts demonstrate their scale. These discoveries provide insight into imperial burial customs and engineering.
Today Beijing is a major gateway city. Beijing Capital International Airport is one of the world’s busiest airports. The city’s air quality is improving. Beijing is becoming an increasingly attractive destination.
So as you explore the \u5730\u85cf\u6d1e remember the layers of history beneath your feet. From ancient capitals to imperial tombs Beijing’s story continues to unfold.