Since time immemorial, the capital city has been the power center of a country. Statistically, as many as 300 Chinese cities once served as power centers-whether for a small state or for a unified empire-in Chinese history. Out of these Xi'an, Luoyang, Beijing, Nanjing, and Kaifeng stand out as the "Five Great Capital Cities" or "Five Ancient Chinese Capitals." As the historical capitals of China, these cities have witnessed the vicissitudes of Chinese history for over 5,000 years. Consisting of five chapters, this book aims to present the narratives of the five ancient cities, supported by abundant photographs and sketches, as well as historical records. In these chapters, the authors explore the historical development of these Chinese capital cities, from the very first dynasty in China, the legendary Xia Dynasty, to the very last one, the tottering Qing Dynasty; and provides an authentic and lively account of the origins, archaeological discoveries, geographical facts, and architectural designs of some world-renowned landmarks in these cities. These include the Drum and Bell towers in Xi'an, the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, the Great Xiangguo Temple in Kaifeng, the Confucius Temple in Nanjing, and the Forbidden City in Beijing.