Beijing, the capital of China, is a sprawling metropolis where ancient imperial history meets state-of-the-art modernity. Home to the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, and countless UNESCO World Heritage Sites, it offers an unparalleled window into 3,000 years of Chinese civilization.
Historical timeline
Key moments that shaped Beijing.
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1
Prehistoric to Early History
Peking Man (Homo erectus pekinensis) inhabited the Zhoukoudian caves southwest of modern Beijing approximately 700,000 years ago. The site is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Yan State established one of the earliest cities at the site of modern Beijing around 1000 BCE, known as Ji.
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2
Liao and Jin Dynasties
The Khitan Liao dynasty established Nanjing (Southern Capital) here in 938 CE. The Jurchen Jin dynasty conquered the Liao in 1115 and made the city their capital Zhongdu (Central Capital). The Juyongguan section of the Great Wall dates to this period.
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3
Yuan Dynasty - Kublai Khan's Khanbaliq
Kublai Khan established the Mongol Yuan dynasty and built his capital Khanbaliq (Dadu) on the ruins of the Jin capital. Marco Polo visited and described the magnificent city. The White Dagoba Temple (1271) and the basic layout of the hutong street grid both date from this period.
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4
Early Ming Dynasty
Zhu Yuanzhang founded the Ming dynasty and initially made Nanjing the capital. His son Yongle seized power and moved the capital north to Beijing. Yongle's massive building campaigns created the city's fundamental structure including the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and the expansion of the Grand Canal.
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5
Ming Dynasty Golden Age
The Forbidden City was completed in 1420 and became the imperial residence for 24 emperors. The Temple of Heaven was built in 1420. The current form of the Great Wall was largely constructed during the Ming period. Beijing's central axis, hutong neighborhoods and imperial gardens took shape. The city reached a population of one million.
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6
Qing Dynasty
Manchu forces breached the Great Wall and captured Beijing in 1644, establishing the Qing dynasty. The Manchu Qing emperors expanded the imperial gardens (Summer Palace, Old Summer Palace) and built the Lama Temple. Beijing became a multi-ethnic capital. British and French forces destroyed the Old Summer Palace in 1860 during the Second Opium War.
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7
Late Qing and Republican Era
Foreign powers occupied Beijing briefly during the Boxer Rebellion (1900). The Republic of China replaced the Qing dynasty in 1912. The Forbidden City was opened as a museum in 1925. Beijing (renamed Beiping) lost its capital status to Nanjing. Japan occupied the city from 1937-1945 during World War II.
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8
People's Republic of China
Mao Zedong proclaimed the People's Republic of China from Tiananmen Gate on October 1, 1949, restoring Beijing as the national capital. The city was massively expanded and many historic buildings demolished during the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976). The 1989 Tiananmen Square protests ended tragically. The 2008 Olympics transformed Beijing into a global city.
Museums
Curated collections that tell Beijing's story.
Palace Museum (Forbidden City)
Admission: ¥60
National Museum of China
Admission: Free (reservation required)
Capital Museum
Admission: Free (reservation required)
Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution
Admission: Free
China National Archives of Publications and Culture (Beijing)
Admission: Free