Beijing: The Biography of a City

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An original and often surprising history of the Beijing region - from its prehistoric roots to its place in myth as the site of wars between demigods, its forgotten 101 years as a kingdom in its own right, through the many centuries of the imperial era and the rise of Communism, until the eve of the 2008 Olympics.

This book introduces some of the colourful characters who have enriched Beijing's history - great transformers from Khubilai Khan to the Yongle Emperor, famous residents from Marco Polo to Chairman Mao, the intrigues of its seven kings and dozens of imperial masters, down to the famous Last Emperor.

Jonathan Clements explores Beijing's best and least-known landmarks - from the heights of the Great Wall to the depths of Mao's nuclear fallout shelters, revealing a city in constant change, that lures and fascinates all who see it.