Beijing
Liao Dynasty (907–1125): The Birth of a Capital
Beijing’s imperial story begins with the Liao Dynasty, founded by the Khitan people in northern China. Around 938 AD, the Liao established a secondary capital named Nanjing (Southern Capital) at the site of modern-day Beijing. Though not the primary seat of power, it served as an essential administrative and military hub to govern the empire’s southern regions. This period laid the groundwork for Beijing’s urban structure, blending nomadic and Han Chinese cultures.
Jin Dynasty (1115–1234): Ascendancy and Expansion
When the Jurchen-led Jin Dynasty overthrew the Liao, they chose the same city as their new capital and renamed it Zhongdu (Central Capital). The Jin rulers expanded the city significantly, building grand palaces, government offices, and defensive walls. Zhongdu marked Beijing’s transformation into a true imperial seat, symbolizing centralized power and growing economic influence in northern China. Though much of the Jin capital was destroyed during later conquests, the urban blueprint remained a critical foundation for future dynasties.
Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368): Dadu and the Mongol Empire
The arrival of the Mongols under Kublai Khan ushered in a dramatic chapter for Beijing. The city was rebuilt and renamed Dadu (Great Capital) — known to Marco Polo as “Khanbaliq.” As the capital of the Yuan Dynasty, Beijing became the political center of a vast empire that stretched from Korea to Eastern Europe.
Kublai Khan’s Dadu featured broad avenues, planned grid systems, and sophisticated waterworks, becoming one of the largest and most cosmopolitan cities in the world at the time. The Yuan period marked the first time Beijing served as the primary capital of a unified Chinese empire — a status it would retain through successive dynasties.
Ming Dynasty (1368–1644): The Rise of the Forbidden City
After overthrowing the Mongols, the Ming Dynasty initially established its capital in Nanjing. However, in 1421, Emperor Yongle moved the capital back north to Beijing and began a monumental construction project: the creation of the Forbidden City — a vast imperial palace complex with over 9,000 rooms, symbolizing absolute authority.
Surrounded by towering walls and a protective moat, the Forbidden City became the ceremonial and administrative heart of the empire. The Ming rulers fortified Beijing with massive city walls, gates, and a robust layout that would shape the city’s core for centuries.
Under the Ming, Beijing flourished as a cultural and military stronghold, reflecting Confucian order and imperial grandeur in every tile and courtyard.
Qing Dynasty (1644–1912): The Last Imperial Glory
The Qing Dynasty, established by the Manchu people, retained Beijing as the capital. They expanded and preserved the Forbidden City while incorporating their own cultural elements into its design and court life.
The Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, and other architectural marvels were either built or expanded during this era, reinforcing Beijing’s status as the spiritual and political center of the Chinese world.
Beijing during the Qing was a city of contrasts — home to the imperial elite, religious institutions, foreign envoys, and commoners alike. It stood as a living symbol of dynastic continuity until the fall of the Qing in 1912, which ended over 800 years of imperial rule in the city.