What Were 7 Great Ancient Capitals Of China?

A Journey Through 3,000 Years of History

📅 Updated June 2026 · Cultural & History Guide ⏱ 12 min read

1. The Evolution of the "Ancient Capitals" Concept

The concept of "Ancient Capitals of China" has expanded over time as historical understanding deepened and archaeological discoveries were made. The traditional "Four Great Ancient Capitals" referred to Beijing, Nanjing, Luoyang, and Xi'an (Chang'an). In the 1920s, Kaifeng was added as a fifth capital due to its significance as the Northern Song capital. In the 1930s, Hangzhou was recognized as the sixth capital, highlighting the Southern Song period. The list expanded to seven in 1988, when the China Ancient Capital Society officially added Anyang following a consensus among archaeologists. In 2004, Zhengzhou was added as an eighth capital, but the concept of the "Seven Great Ancient Capitals" remains the most widely recognized and historically significant grouping. These cities are distinguished not just by being former seats of power, but by their enduring status as core capitals that played vital roles in China's political, economic, and cultural development.

2. Complete Comparison Table: The 7 Great Ancient Capitals

3. Xi'an – The Timeless Capital of Empires

Xi'an, known as Chang'an in ancient times, is often considered the most historically significant of the seven capitals. It served as the capital for 13 dynasties, including the Zhou, Qin, Han, Sui, and Tang — the golden ages of Chinese civilization. The city's strategic location in the fertile Guanzhong Plain, at the eastern end of the Silk Road, made it an ideal political and economic hub. Xi'an is home to some of China's most iconic historical sites: the world-famous Terracotta Army, the well-preserved city walls from the Ming Dynasty, and the Big and Small Wild Goose Pagodas, which have stood since the Tang Dynasty. The city was the starting point of the Silk Road and a cosmopolitan center during the Tang Dynasty, when it was the world's largest city.

4. Luoyang – The Oldest of the Great Capitals

Luoyang, located in the central plains of Henan Province, is the earliest of the seven capitals to have been established as a major dynastic seat. It first rose to prominence as the capital of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (510 BCE) and remained a critical city for over a millennium. It was also the capital during the Eastern Han Dynasty, which saw the introduction of Buddhism to China; the city's White Horse Temple, built in 68 CE, is considered the country's first Buddhist temple. The magnificent Longmen Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage site, contains tens of thousands of Buddhist statues carved into cliffs during the Northern Wei and Tang dynasties. Luoyang is traditionally known as the "Nine Dynasties Capital," though some sources count up to 13. It served as the capital for the Cao Wei, Western Jin, and Northern Wei dynasties, among others.

5. Nanjing – The "Southern Capital" and Ming Dynasty Legacy

Nanjing, whose name literally means "Southern Capital," has been the capital of ten dynasties and governments. Its history as a capital began with Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period in 229 CE. It became the thriving capital of the Six Dynasties (220–589 CE), a period of cultural flourishing despite political division. In 1368, the Hongwu Emperor, founder of the Ming Dynasty, made Nanjing his capital, constructing a vast imperial city and the magnificent Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum. Nanjing's strategic location on the Yangtze River made it a vital economic and military center. It later served as the capital of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and the Republic of China.

6. Beijing – The Northern Capital and Imperial Pinnacle

Beijing, or "Northern Capital," is China's current capital and one of the most historically layered cities in the world. It first gained major importance under the Yuan Dynasty, when it was known as Khanbaliq (Dadu) and was the capital of Kublai Khan's empire. In 1403, the Yongle Emperor of the Ming Dynasty moved the capital from Nanjing to Beijing, constructing the magnificent Forbidden City, the world's largest palace complex. The Qing Dynasty continued to use Beijing as its capital, and it remained the capital of the Republic of China during the Beiyang period before being re-established as the capital of the People's Republic of China in 1949. Beijing is a living museum of Chinese history, home to the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, and the nearby Great Wall.

7. Kaifeng – The City of the Northern Song

Kaifeng, located in Henan Province, reached its zenith as the capital of the Northern Song Dynasty (960–1127 CE) when it was known as Dongjing or Bianjing. At that time, it was the largest city in the world, with a population of 600,000 to 700,000 and a thriving commercial and industrial economy. The city was surrounded by three rings of walls and was a hub of canal traffic. The Iron Pagoda, built in 1049, stands today as a testament to Kaifeng's ancient grandeur. Kaifeng's strategic location on the Yellow River floodplain made it vulnerable to flooding and military assault; it fell to the Jurchen Jin in 1127 and was devastated by a Ming army flood in 1642.

8. Hangzhou – The Beautiful Southern Song Capital

Hangzhou, the capital of the Southern Song Dynasty from 1127 to 1276, was then known as Lin'an. The city's breathtaking scenery, centered on West Lake, made it a place of legend and inspiration for poets and artists. Hangzhou was one of the most prosperous cities in the world during the Southern Song, serving as the political, cultural, and economic center of China after the loss of the north. The city was also the capital of the Wuyue Kingdom during the Five Dynasties period. Marco Polo famously visited Hangzhou and described it as one of the finest and noblest cities in the world.

9. Anyang – The Cradle of Chinese Writing

Anyang, the most ancient of the seven capitals, is known as the site of Yinxu, the last capital of the Shang Dynasty (c. 1300–1046 BCE). The city, then called Yin, was the seat of the Shang kings and the center of a sophisticated Bronze Age civilization. The archaeological site of Yinxu is one of China's most important excavations. It has yielded over 100,000 oracle bones – turtle shells and animal bones used for divination – which bear the earliest known examples of Chinese writing. This discovery provides irrefutable evidence of the Shang Dynasty and the origins of Chinese civilization. Anyang is also a "Seven Dynasties Capital," having served as the capital for several regional kingdoms during the Six Dynasties period.