peking

Peking, historically used in English for the capital of China, is the capital of the People’s Republic of China. In modern usage the city is generally called Beijing in pinyin. It is a direct-controlled municipality in northern China and serves as a political, cultural, and educational center with extensive domestic and international connections.

The name Peking derives from an older romanization system (Wade-Giles). Beijing is the pinyin rendering adopted by the Chinese government and international organizations from the late 20th century onward; Peking remains common in historical and literary contexts.

Beijing has served as the capital of several Chinese states. It was the seat of the Yuan dynasty, when known as Khanbaliq, and later the capital of the Ming and Qing empires. It has been the capital of the People’s Republic since 1949. Archaeological sites near the city include Zhoukoudian, where fossils of Peking Man were discovered in the 1920s and 1930s.

Beijing’s historic center contains the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, along with the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace in the surrounding area. The city is also a hub for modern architecture and culture, and is closely associated with Peking Opera and other arts.

Beijing is a major center for education and science, hosting universities such as Peking University and Tsinghua University. It is an important transport hub, served by Beijing Capital International Airport and Beijing Daxing International Airport, as well as extensive high-speed rail links to other parts of China.