Beijing has been the capital of China for over 800 years. There are many architectural buildings left from the old days, which have witnessed numerous historical events, and are treasures of traditional culture, representative of genuine Chinese style. They are valuable not only because of their independent function as buildings, but also because of their unrivaled diversity and integrity, which constitute the most unique, most valuable and best preserved artistic masterpieces, both traditional and dynamic.

It will be a great pleasure for people who come to Beijing for a visit traveling around the city with a map in search of the imperial flavors, folk customs and architectural charm. For people working in the fields of architecture, planning, history and art, or students in these fields, this is part of their essential tasks. The Historical Architectural Map of Beijing offers an extensive knowledge of the city to those who are interested in traditional Chinese architecture and culture, and those who travel in Beijing, exploring the history of the city.

Li Luke is a post-doctorate and assistant research fellow in the School of Architecture at Tsinghua University, majoring in architectural history and theory. Wang Nan is a post-doctorate and assistant research fellow of urban planning at Tsinghua University. Li Jing is pursuing her doctoral degree at Tsinghua University, majoring in architectural history and theory. Hu Jiezhong is pursuing her doctoral degree at Tsinghua University, majoring in architectural history and theory.