Beijing has a long and tumultuous past--archaeological evidenceunearthed nearby indicates that the early hominids known as "PekingMan" inhabited the area some 500,000 years ago. Since then, thecity has seen imperial dynasties come and go and has been witnessto wars, rebellions, foreign invasions and revolution!

The earliest records of human settlement in Beijing date back to1000 BC. During the Warring States Period (453-221 BC) the town ofJi arose, serving as a trade outpost for Mongols, Koreans and otherethnic groups. Ji became the capital of the Kingdom of Yan, and itsstrategic position led to struggles for control between Mongols andManchurians.

In 1215 AD, the capital fell to the Mongolian warlord Genghis Khanand his warriors, during his campaign to build a vast empire. Aftera seven-year siege the city was destroyed. In its place emergedKhanbaliq (Khan's Town) or Dadu (Chinese for Great Capital)--builtin 1267, under the control of Genghis Khan's grandson, Kublai Khan.By 1279, Kublai had conquered all of China (together with most ofAsia), becoming ruler of the largest country in history. This reignin China's history is known as the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368).

In 1368 Zhu Yuanzhang led an uprising against the Mongol Empireand seized Khan's great city. Thus began the Ming Dynasty. UnderZhu's control, the city changed names to Beiping (Northern Peace)and was replaced as imperial capital by Nanjing (Southern Capital)in the south. The demotion did not last long, however. In the early1400s, Zhu's fourth son, Yong Le, returned capital status toBeiping and renamed the city Beijing (Northern Capital). It wasYong Le who laid the foundations for modern-day Beijing. He builtthe basic city grid with the Forbidden City asits heart and center. Other famous structures such as the Temple of Heaven and the Bell Tower were builtduring the reign of Yong Le.

The Manchus put an end to the Ming in 1644, establishing the QingDynasty (1644-1911). Under the Qing, Beijing was further expandedand modernized with the construction of the OldSummer Palace and the (new) Summer Palace. However, thispeaceful period was to end in violent fashion. By the late 18thcentury, Beijing was subject to foreign invasion from the Frenchand British, followed by anarchy, and local rebellion. Theincompetence and corruption of the Qing rulers, especially EmpressDowager Cixi (1834-1908), angered many Chinese and led to the BoxerRebellion in 1900. Many foreigners were killed and, in retaliation,foreign armies invaded Beijing.

The Qing Dynasty finally collapsed in 1911. The Kuomintang(Nationalist Party) rose to power and the Republic of China wasfounded with Sun Yat-sen as president. But the situation did notimprove. Warlords and foreigners battled for control, andcorruption and poverty were rife. These conditions were ripe forrebellion and change, leading to the growing popularity of Marxismand the formation of the Chinese Communist Party in Shanghai in1921. The Kuomintang, now under Chiang Kai-shek, allied with theCommunists to seize control from the warlords and foreigners and toreunify China. However, a power struggle erupted between them afterWorld War II, leading to civil war. Defeated, Chiang Kai-shek andthe Nationalists fled to Taiwan, and on 1 October 1949 the People'sRepublic of China was formally declared by Mao Zedong from Tiananmen Gate.

Under Mao's leadership, China struggled to erase the effects offeudalism and colonialism and build a new nation. Mao launched theGreat Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), both ofwhich led to disastrous results for Beijing and the country. In anattempt to eradicate all capitalist or exploitative influences, thefanatical Red Guards destroyed temples, monuments and works of art,and persecuted intellectuals and writers. Political infighting andpower struggles within the Party further contributed to the chaos,which remained until Mao's death in 1976.

In 1979, Deng Xiaoping emerged as China's leader, launching amodernization program that emphasized open market reforms, greatercontact with the West, and economic growth. Despite the economicreforms, Deng was determined to maintain the communist politicalideology. In 1989, student pro-democracy demonstrations at Tiananmen Square turned tragically violent. Sincethen, Beijing has seen considerable economic change, with thegrowth of private businesses, rising personal incomes and aconstruction boom. With the prospect of World Trade Organizationmembership on the horizon, the future does indeed seem bright forthis remarkable, ancient city.