From Peking to Beijing: The Name Change Explained

For centuries, Westerners knew China's capital as **Peking**. Since 1949, it's **Beijing**. Here's why.

Same Chinese Characters, Different Systems

• Chinese: 北京 = Běi (North) + Jīng (Capital) = "Northern Capital."
• Peking: From **Postal Map Romanization** (1906), based on southern (Nanjing) dialect pronunciation + French missionary conventions. Used by customs, telegraph, treaties.
• Beijing: From **Hanyu Pinyin** (adopted 1958, ISO standard 1982), based on **Mandarin (Putonghua)** pronunciation.

The Timeline

• 1368 (Ming): Zhu Yuanzhang moves capital from Nanjing to Beiping, renames it **Beijing** ("Northern Capital").
• 1421: Yongle Emperor formally establishes Beijing as primary capital.
• 1644 (Qing): Retain Beijing.
• 1928 (ROC): Nanjing capital; Beijing renamed **Beiping** ("Northern Peace").
• 1949 (PRC): Mao Zedong proclaims PRC in Beijing; name restored to **Beijing**.
• 1979: US Government adopts Pinyin (Beijing).
• 1982: ISO 7098 makes Pinyin international standard.

Why the Shift?

Pinyin reflects the **national standard language (Putonghua)** promoted by both ROC and PRC. Postal Map was a patchwork. The change was part of China's assertion of linguistic sovereignty—like **Canton → Guangzhou, Nanking → Nanjing, Sinkiang → Xinjiang**.

Survivors

Some "Peking" terms persist by convention: **Peking University (PKU), Peking Man (Homo erectus pekinensis), Peking Duck, Peking Opera.** But the city is Beijing.