North China · Beijing · Capital of China
Three thousand years of urban history and over 860 years as a capital, compressed onto one central axis — the Forbidden City, the Great Wall and the hutongs are, for most people, the very first picture that comes to mind when they think 'China'.
Why it's special
One central axis threading together three thousand years of history — and the 'China' most people picture first.
Beijing carries over 3,000 years of urban history and more than 860 years as a capital — the political center of three major unified dynasties: Yuan, Ming and Qing. Today it's the world's first 'Dual Olympic City,' having hosted both the 2008 Summer and 2022 Winter Games. The central axis running through the old city, north to south, is now a UNESCO World Heritage entry, and the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace and the nearby Great Wall together form most first-time visitors' very first mental picture of 'China.' The street grid fans out in concentric ring roads around that axis, the metro network is vast and bilingually signed, and it lands smoothly for a first trip to China.
Culture
The Great Wall
Everyday ease
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