E-BOOK / 19,665 words Beijing. A city of emperors and expressways, dumplings and data centers, poetry and policy. For over three thousand years, it has stood at the heart of Chinese civilization – rei
E-BOOK / 19,665 words Beijing. A city of emperors and expressways, dumplings and data centers, poetry and policy. For over three thousand years, it has stood at the heart of Chinese civilization – reinvented again and again, yet never quite losing the smoky scent of its hutongs or the stately hush of its temples. This book is an immersive journey into the soul of China’s capital – its contradictions, transformations, and enduring character. Blending history, travelogue, culture, and storytelling, this book brings together fifteen vivid chapters that explore the city's vast and complex identity. From the grandeur of the Forbidden City to the sizzling charm of street food stalls, from Olympic ambition to the quiet corners of neighborhood parks, this is Beijing as you've never seen it: not just a place on a map, but a living, breathing metropolis that defies simplification. Whether you're planning your first visit, reminiscing about your time there, or simply curious about one of the most influential cities in the world, this book offers something rare: a narrative that is informative without being academic, reflective without being sentimental, and deeply human in its approach. Meet the scholars and street vendors, artists and bureaucrats, migrants and locals who make the city tick. Wander through seasons shaped by monsoons and poetry. Get lost in a hutong and find yourself at a high-rise café minutes later. Discover the politics behind the architecture, the philosophy behind the food, and the humanity behind the headlines. With warmth, wit, and an eye for detail, the book invites you to go beyond the skyline and step into the heart of the capital. It’s a book for anyone who suspects that cities, like people, are best understood not by their résumé, but by their stories.
