Beijing: From Imperial Capital to Olympic City

by Lillian M. Li

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Description

Few world cities have a record as long, as fascinating, or as well-documented as Beijing's. A capital almost continuously for more than a thousand years, the city has been Khubilai Khan's Mongol headquarters, home to emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties, and the main stage for Communist-era achievements and upheavals.Beijing is the first book in English to trace this vibrant city's history from its earliest days to the present. It highlights recent changes in the city as its more than show more fifteen million people live through record-level economic growth and intensive preparations for the 2008 Olympics. Focusing on the lives of ordinary residents and rulers alike, the authors examine the controversial destruction of historic districts as well as the construction of new residential and business districts and Olympic venues. Extensive photographs and paintings, many not previously published, offer a window onto Beijing not only in major phases of its past, but also in its startlingly different present. Compelling and revealing, Beijing arrives just in time for the city's turn in the Olympic spotlight. show less

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Author Information

Picture of author.
8 Works 565 Members
Lillian M. Li is Sara Lawrence Lightfoot Professor of History at Swarthmore College.

Classifications

Genres
Nonfiction, History, Travel, General Nonfiction, Sports and Leisure, Art & Design
DDC/MDS
951.156History & geographyHistory of AsiaEast Asia: China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, KoreaNortheast ChinaHebei, Tianjin, BeijingBeijing
LCC
DS795.3 .L512History of Europe, Asia, Africa and OceaniaAsiaHistory of AsiaChinaLocal history and description
BISAC

Statistics

Members
30
Popularity
930,664
Rating
½ (3.50)
Languages
English
Media
Paper
ISBNs
3