As China's global influence continues to rise, its capital, Beijing, has become increasingly important—and a popular tourist destination. Presenting the capital from its earliest beginnings as a prehistoric campsite for Peking Man through its fluctuating fortunes under a dozen dynasties, Jonathan Clements also notes its ambitious yet destructive building projects. Clements also notes the pros and cons of different sections of the Great Wall and the best ways to see the Forbidden City and the fast-disappearing relics of the city's Manchu and Maoist eras.