Beijing is an intimate and informed portrait of a city at the centre of one of the world's oldest civilizations and the capital of one of its newest superpowers. For hundreds of thousands of years, humans and their ancestors - Peking Man among them - have lived here. Over three and a half millennia, cities have risen and fallen in this place, five of them the capitals of dynastic empires. For centuries the stage for sieges, massacres, rebellions and political spectacle, Beijing has produced or inspired some of China's greatest and most iconic works of literature, theatre and music. At this book's heart is a concise, lively history of the city, full of big and charismatic personalities and dramatic events. Generously illustrated with modern photographs and compelling historical images and containing a number of useful listings, Beijing is the ultimate introduction to this extraordinary city for travellers and general readers alike.

Listen to a podcast on first impressions of Beijing before a live audience at the Centre on China in the World at the Australian National University, between Jeremy Goldkorn, Geremie Barme and Linda Jaivin at popupchinese.com.