Beijing or Peking
After the fall of Yan the following dynasties Han and Jin included this land into different districts. At the time of Tang dynasty this territory becomes a site where the headquarters of Fanyang jiedushi, the military governor of the northern part of what is today Hebei province. In 755 broke out An Shi rebellion which is often viewed as the starting point of the fall of Tang’s dynasty.
In 936 North-Chinese Later Jin (936-947) gave the biggest part of northern lands near the border including the territory of today’s Beijing to Khitan Liao Dynasty. In 938 Liao Dynasty founded a second capital of its state on the place of now’s Beijing and called it Nanjing (the “Southern Capital”). In 1125 Jurchen Jin Dynasty united annexed Liao’s kingdom and in 1153 moved its capital to Nanjing, having changed its name to Zhongdu (the “Central Capital”). It was located in today’s district Tianningsi slightly to the south-west of Beijing’s downtown.
In 1215 Zhongdu was burned to the ground by Mongol troops (on Genghis Khan’s order) and was rebuilt a little to the north in 1267. Preparing for the conquest of the entire China, would be founder of Yuan Dynasty, Kublai Khan made the city his capital and called it in Chinese Dadu (literally the “Great Capital”) and in Mongolian Khanbalik (the “Great Residency of Khan”). It was at that time that China was visited by Marko Polo, and in his memoirs this city is mentioned by the name of Cambuluc. Prior to that capitals of the Chinese State were usually located in the central parts of the country but the main base of Kublai was located in Mongolia, that is why he chose this place and non else. This decision of Khan raised the city’s status which was situated near the northern end of historical China. Dadu was located a little to the north of today’s Beijing downtown, between northern spreads of today’s second and third circle roads. In this place one can still see remains of Mongolian fortress walls.
In 1368 Yuan Dynasty fell, the city was again ruined, but later it was again rebuilt by Ming Dynasty with a new prefecture of Shuntian around it. In 1403 the third Ming Emperor Yongle once again moved the capital from Nanjing to this city and changed its name to Beijing (literally “The Northern Capital”). The city began to be also known under the name of Jingshi (“Capital”). At the time of Ming dynasty Beijing received its today’s shape, and Ming-era fortress wall was the city wall of Beijing until recently, when it was pulled down for construction of the second circle road in its place.
It is believed that Beijing was the biggest city of the world in the periods of time from 1425 till 1650, and 1710 till 1825. Forbidden City, the residency of Ming and Jin Emperors was built in 1406-1420; after that the Temple of Heaven (1420) and other major constructions were built. The main entrance to the Forbidden City is through the Gates of the Heavenly Peace (the gates of Tiananmen) which became a national symbol of the People’s Republic of China. These gates are also depicted on its national emblem. They caught fire twice during Ming dynasty and were fully restored in 1651.