The Yuan Dynasty marked the first time a non-Han regime ruled a unified China. Its capital, Dadu (present-day Beijing), made the city the nation's political center for the first time. The capital flourished with imperial palaces, gardens, altars and temples, government offices, and renowned Buddhist and Daoist sites—making its infrastructure more complete than ever.

But what truly set Yuan Dadu apart was its vibrant multicultural tapestry. Agricultural, nomadic, and foreign cultures collided and merged there, adding new luster to Chinese civilization. Drawing on historical events and reliable sources, this book traces Dadu's evolution through its planning, structure, growth, and economy, highlighting the city's enduring significance and influence on later generations.

WANG Gang, Researcher at the Institute of History, Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, and Member of the Beijing Research Institute of Culture and History.