燕京

燕京 is the historical name for Beijing, a city in northern China. It refers to the ancient capital and is often used in literary or historical contexts rather than everyday speech.

The character 燕 (yān) originally meant 'swallow' but was also used as a poetic term for Beijing due to its association with the Yan state in ancient times. 京 (jīng) means 'capital' or 'metropolis,' commonly used in place names like 北京 (Běijīng, Beijing).

While modern Chinese commonly uses 北京, 燕京 appears in historical texts, poetry, and sometimes in brand names or cultural references. It carries a sense of tradition and antiquity, often evoking images of ancient imperial history.