Beijing boasts a history of more than 3,000 years, over 860 of which it has spent serving as the capital of China, including the Liao, Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. With mountains surrounding the inland city on three sides, in addition to the old inner and outer city walls, Beijing was strategically poised and developed to be the residence of the emperor and thus was the perfect location for the imperial capital. There are over 7,300 cultural relics and historic sites in the city. So it can say that one brick or one tile in Beijing has its own legendary.

The Peking Opera or Beijing Opera is China's national opera and undoubtedly the most popular and widespread opera in the country. It has been over 200 years since it was brought to Beijing by Qing Emperor Qianlong as an 80th birthday gift to himself. It is a comprehensive performing art combining music, singing, dialogue, mime, dance and martial arts. It was inscribed on the List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2010.

Beijing cuisine is the local style of cooking. Peking Roast Duck is perhaps the best known dish. Lvdagun (Rolling soybean cake), a traditional Beijing snack, is made from steamed glutinous millet or sticky rice, scattered with fried bean-flour and filled with red pea. Teahouses are common in Beijing.