Beijing, one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China, also the capital of the People’s Republic of China, is a modern and international metropolis of historic significance. Beijing is the place where the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and the Central People’s Government of China are located, and it is the political, economic, culture and communication center of the country as well as the center for foreign trade. Beijing is renowned for its opulent palaces, temples, and huge stone walls and gates. Its art treasures and universities have long made the city a centre of culture and art in China. As a cradle for human civilization, Beijing has a history of over 700,000 years. That is tracing back to Peking Man period. As a city, Beijing has a history of over 3,000 years. As a capital city, Beijing has a history of over 1,000 years. As a whole national capital of political, economic and culture center, Beijing has a history of over 800 years. Beijing or Peking (北京) means "northern capital", was first recorded as the city of “Ji” or “Jicheng” during the Zhou Dynasty, which was probably the earliest appearance of Beijing. Later in the 11th century BC, the kingdom of Yan established its capital at “Jicheng”, and named it “Yanjing (燕京)”. It served as the capital of Yan for eight to nine hundred years and it was an important metropolis in north China. In 221 BC, when Qinshihuang, the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty, defeated other six kingdoms and established a unified centralized state with its capital in Xianyang (in present Shaanxi). The state of Yan ceased and Jicheng became an ordinary town. In the Sui Dynasty, it was named “Zhoujun” and during the Tang Dynasty, it was renamed “Youzhou”. In 936, Liao Dynasty occupied “Youzhou” and named it “Nanjing”, and designed it a secondary capital of the Liao Dynasty. In 938, the city became one of the five capitals of the kingdom of Liao. Since then, the historical position of the city had changed tremendously. It changed gradually from a city of military strategic important to the political center of the whole country. However, the city was soon renamed “Yanjing”. Ever since then, the city had been the capital city for five dynasties, they are Liao, Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. Beijing is both a tribute to China’s proud history and a gateway to China’s future. It was the capital city during the Liao, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. In Beijing, there are lots of cultural relics, historical sites and scenic spots. Including the longest defensive wall in the world---the Great Wall, the largest palatial complex in the world---the Forbidden City, the largest city-center square in the world---the Tian’anmen Square, the largest heaven-worshipping architecture in the world---the Temple of Heaven, the best-preserved imperial garden in the world---the Summer Palace, the most massive and best-preserved imperial mausoleum structures in the world---the Ming Tombs and so on. You can also enjoy the “Beijing cuisine”, such as Beijing roast duck, Donglaishun hotpot, and some other traditional local food. You will have the opportunity to watch the Chinese Kungfu and Peking Opera performance, the colorful faces, beautiful costumes, wonderful dancing and fighting will certainly give you a deep impression. Beijing is a city quite famous and also interesting for its architecture. Three styles of architecture predominate in urban Beijing. First, the traditional architecture of imperial China, perhaps best exemplified by the massive Tian'anmen (Gate of Heavenly Peace), which remains the People's Republic of China's trademark edifice, the Forbidden City, the Imperial Ancestral Temple and the Temple of Heaven. Next there is what is sometimes referred to as the "Sino-Sov" style, built between the 1950s and the 1970s, with structures tending to be boxy, bland, and poorly made.[62] Finally, there are much more modern architectural forms — most noticeably in the area of the Beijing CBD and Beijing Financial Street. Beijing of the early 21st century has witness tremendous growth of new building constructions, showing various modern styles from international designers. A mixture of both old and new styles of architecture can be seen at the 798 Art Zone, which mixes 1950s design with a blend of the new. Beijing is home to a great number of colleges and universities, including several well-regarded universities of international stature, such as Peking University and Tsinghua University.[8] Owing to Beijing's status as the political and cultural capital of China, a larger proportion of tertiary-level institutions are concentrated here than in any other city in China, reaching at least 59 in number. Many international students from Japan, Korea, North America, Europe, Southeast Asia, and elsewhere come to Beijing to study every year.