Beijing has been the capital of numerous dynasties throughout its history, including the Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. With but few interruptions, the city has been China's capital almost continuously since AD 1272, when the Mongol ruler Kublai Khan established his political base there.

In 1420 it was made the official capital city of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), under the name of Beijing ("Northern Capital"). The city has becom an integral part of the country's history over the past eight centuries.

The Comminists took pver the capital in 1949 when Mao Zedong proclaimed the People's Republic of China on October 1, 1949.

Since the early 1980s when China initiated economic and market reforms under the late Deng Xiaoping, Beijing has become a truly modern, international city.

 

Beijing, a fast changing city with a history going back 3,000 years, is an amazing mix of modernization and historical legacy. As you sip a cappuccino at Starbucks Cafe nestled under the golden roofs of the ImperialPalaceor take a rickshaw trip through the high-rise buildings in the central business center, you will find the seamless union of the city's past and present.

 

The long-standing culture of Beijing is strong because of its inclusiveness. People can feel the pulse of the world in this city, through the European fashion shops, the international art shows, the Internet, the offices of multinational corporations and most importantly, the people who are earnest about learning new things. Because it has been the epic center for cultural, educational, tourist, scientific, diplomatic and political activities in China for centuries, Beijing embraces the world with its hospitality, tolerance and multiculturalism.