Ji, Beijing

Ji, also known as Jicheng, was an ancient city in northern China that has become the longest continuously inhabited section of modern Beijing. Historical mention of Ji dates to the founding of the Zhou dynasty in about 1045 BC, and archaeological finds in southwestern Beijing, where Ji was believed to be located, date to the Spring and Autumn period. It served as the capital of the ancient states of Ji and Yan until the Qin dynasty unified China in 221 BC, and afterwards as a prefectural capital for Youzhou. In the Tang period it came to be called Youzhou and later Yanjing, and it was the southern capital of the Liao dynasty and the main capital of the Jurchen Jin dynasty. In the 13th century Kublai Khan built the Yuan capital next to it, and the old city became a suburb.