Beijing’s story is a long arc of transformation—a city that has reinvented itself across dynasties and decades, transforming from an imperial capital to a global metropolis. Beijing has sometimes fought for its image, but anyone who has spent time here knows that the city’s appeal doesn’t lie in a flashy skyline or international influence, but rather in its unassuming corner restaurants where hardworking chefs dish up specialties from every part of the country, and in hutong alleyways where resting bicycles and hidden courtyards center you firmly in the real China.