Beijing is one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China. It was the capital of the State of Yan, one of the powers of the Warring States Period. The Liao, Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties also selected Beijing as the capital city. The city has been renamed several times, with historical names of Yanjing (燕京, Yānjīng), Dadu (大都, Dàdū), Cambuluc (Khanbaliq, 汗八里, Hànbālǐ), Peiping(北平,Běipíng) and Jingshi (京师, Jīngshī).

With a history of 3000 years, Beijing has 7300 cultural relics and historical sites, among which the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace and the Great Wall were listed as World Heritage Sites. The traditional architecture courtyard houses (Siheyuan) and the alleyways (Hutong) they form in Beijing are essential parts of old Beijing.