700,000 B.C.

Peking Man

1045 B.C.

Ji city founded in Beijing

226 B.C.

Emperor Qin Shihuang occupied Ji

581-618

Called Zhuojun

618-907

Called Youzhou

916-1125

Called Nanjing, capital of Liao

1153

Called Zhongdu, capital of Kin

1215

Occupied by Genghis Khan and called Yanjing

1272

Called Dadu, capital of Yuan

1368

Called Beiping under the Ming empire

1403

Renamed Beijing

1406

Forbidden City--construction began

1421

Became the Ming Capital

1564

Expanded further south to form the present-day city size

1644

Became the Qing Capital

1860

British-French Allied Forces invaded the city and burned down Yuanmingyuan Gardens

1900

Eignt-Power Allied Forces invaded the city to suppress Boxer Movement

1911

Sun Yat-sen's revolution put an end to the rule of the Qing

1912

Founding of the Republic of China (then renamed Beiping)

1937

Japaninvaded Beijing

1945

Surrender of Japan

1949

Founding of the People's Republic of China, resumed the name Beijing