ix Preface Beijing in the twenty-first century stands out as the window for outsiders to look into China and the stage for the Chinese to showcase their country to the world. Beijing is the capital of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and has been the capital of unified China for much of the last seven and a half cen- turies. It must be “the model of all places,” a goal that is dictated by the central, instead of the municipal, government and that is to be achieved with no national resources spared. Beijing is an ancient city in one of the oldest civilizations, with origins dating back three thousand years. Its prominence arose during the late imperial period and has sustained since as a result of environmental changes and geopolitical reconfigurations in East Asia. Therefore, Beijing is the best witness and bearer of profound political, economic, and cultural transformations in recent Chinese history. Beijing is a megacity with a population of 21.5 million in 2018. It is the second-largest city in China after Shanghai (24.2 million) and one of the four government-designated megacities along with Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou. Together with Shanghai, Chongqing, and Tianjin, Beijing is also one of the four centrally administered municipalities. Beijing’s long-standing capital status has made it a leading center for cultural institutions and the new economy. It has the largest number of universities and colleges, corporate headquarters, and unicorns—that is, privately held firms with market valuation exceeding USD 1 billion—and the greatest concentration of venture capital among all Chinese cities. There are Chinese cities that rival Beijing in either historical heritage or economic might, but none can match Beijing in both regards. Xian and Luoyang, venerable ancient capital cities, do not come close to Beijing in eco- nomic and political prowess today. Shanghai and Shenzhen, also megacities and economic powerhouses, did not attain distinction until modern times.
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