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At least 500,000 years ago (perhaps earlier)
Peking Man inhabited the Beijing area
11th Century BC
Two small kingdoms named Yah and Ji were established in Beijing area
8th Century-3rd Century BC
Yan conquers Ji and installed its capital as Yanjing
221 BC
Fall of the Yan, emergence of the Qin Dynasty
618 AD
Growing garrison town of Youzhou under the Tang Dynasty
1153
Capital of the Jin Dynasty, Zhongdu
1271
Capital of the Yuan Dynasty, Dadu
1368
Renamed Beiping after the Ming Dynasty settled temporarily in Nanjing
1403
Reign of Ming Emperor Yongie began; the city's name changed from Beiping to Beijing
1407
Construction of the Forbidden City began; ended in 1420; Emperor Yongle relocated the capital from Nanjing to Beijing in 1421.
1644
Manchu tribes established the Qing Dynasty
1911
Qing Dynasty collapsed, Republican Era began
1949
Chairman Mao declared the founding of the People's Republic of China
2001
Beijing won right to host the 2008 Summer Olympic Games
2008
The 29th Summer Olympic Games and the 13th Paralympics were held in Beijing
2009
Beijing celebrated the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China
