Dusty, windswept, yet shielded by mountains from the encroaching Gobi desert, Beijing represents the might of China's rulers from Kublai Khan to Chairman Mao. Once one of the four Great Ancient capitals, twice the largest city on Earth, Beijing reigns supreme over the world's most populated country: from the Forbidden City to Tiananmen Square, it is China's political epicenter and the figurehead of Chinese culture.
Though fiercely proud of its traditional roots, since the award of the 2008 Olympics Beijing's leaders have kicked off a frantic race to modernize the ancient city. Traditional "hutong" neighborhoods have been bulldozed to make way for apartment blocks, skyscrapers and shiny shopping malls, which sprout up almost overnight: at times, it seems as if the whole city should exist under a massive "Under Construction" sign.
Some say that this furious development has resulted in cultural erosion and alienation amongst Beijing's inhabitants, many of whom have been shifted from the center and dumped unceremoniously by ever-increasing concentric ringroads alongside the bulging population of migrant workers.
But as China's tight grip on its people slowly relaxes, its artistic communities -- helped by rising student numbers -- have seen a fresh surge in creativity, optimism and entrepreneurial spirit, helping to underline the capital's position as the zenith of Chinese culture and society.
While the Chinese capital may perceive itself as more cultured and aristocratic than money-chasing Shanghai, Beijing has also seen its economy surge. Its inhabitants boast the highest average wages in China; as its cellphone-toting populace's disposable income has soared, a plethora of opulent bars, restaurants and clubs have exploded in the capital, all catering to China's new elite.
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