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"The culture of the Chinese nation has evolved over thousands of years and reached its peak in the Zhao and Song Dynasties." - Chen Yinke. This book takes the national treasure "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" as the object, breaks down the details one by one, and vividly explains why Bianjing, the capital of the Northern Song Dynasty, can be called a model of urbanization.

The author refers to a large number of Chinese literature materials, combined with relevant Western information and development experience, focusing on the details of the major events of the past dynasties, economic conditions, the development of science and technology, culture and art, changes in military and political systems, etc. That drive urban construction and urbanization. He also focuses on China's unique urban outlook and the characteristics of urban evolution. There are many incisive discussions that are very different from Western perspectives, as well as new ideas and methods for looking at history and civilization evolution from the city.

More than half of the world's population lives in cities today. Cities provide residents with a safe, convenient, and comfortable living environment and are the fulcrum of every country's politics, culture, and non-agricultural economy. However, the meaning of a city is not only reflected in its practical functions. The author creatively uses cities as an entry point to observe Chinese civilization and history, and systematically analyzes how the development of civilization and historical evolution over thousands of years are reflected in urban construction. Relying on a large number of Chinese and Western literature and cutting-edge archaeological results, this book sorts out the urban development from the Neolithic Age to the present in terms of military and political systems, economic conditions, territorial changes, etc., And strives to meticulously restore the trajectory of changes in Chinese civilization and cities over the past five thousand years.