How, though, can all this modernisation be squared with the maintenance of what every senior official says is the capital's great quality, its function as the ancient vessel of Chinese history and culture?

ECONOMIST: Get ready for an enormous show of triumphalism

The National Library of China (NLC) contributed manuscripts, maps, books, and rubbings of steles and oracle bones that span the range of Chinese history from ancient to modern times.

UNESCO: Communication and Information