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For Ming dynasty emperors—who presided over the creation of masterworks like the Temple of Heaven, the Forbidden City, and the later stages of the Great Wall of China—Beijing was nothing less than the center of the universe. In August of 2008, when it hosted the Summer Olympic Games, the Chinese capital city once again had the eyes of the world upon it. To prepare for the international attention and thousands of visitors, the city undertook a flurry of development—the results of which include several striking, architecturally innovative projects like the new China Central Television Tower headquarters, the new National Center for the Performing Arts, and the world’s largest airport terminal. If these don’t quite match the ancient marvels that are still at the heart of the city, they’re certainly evidence of Beijing’s continuous cultural relevancy and enormous ambition. See the slideshow.
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