Final answer:
Beijing is the city that currently stands on what was once Dadu, the capital of Kublai Khan's Yuan dynasty established in the late 13th century. This dynasty marked a significant period in Chinese history, with Kublai Khan being heralded as a unifier under foreign rule that adhered to traditional Mongol values and governance practices.
Step-by-step explanation:
Kublai Khan founded his Yuan dynasty with a capital at Dadu, which is the site of what present-day city? The direct answer in 2 lines is:
Beijing is the present-day city that was once known as Dadu, the capital of Kublai Khan's Yuan dynasty.
Kublai Khan established the Yuan dynasty in 1271 and declared Dadu, which is modern-day Beijing, as the capital. Adopting the Chinese name Yuan signified the Mongols' claim to the Mandate of Heaven, a concept denoting divine right to rule. After his full conquest of the Song dynasty, Kublai became the ruler of a unified China,
despite not being of Chinese origin. His reign represented an era where the Mongolian warriors transitioned to a more settled lifestyle and governance, setting the foundation for what would become a pivotal epoch in Chinese history. The Yuan dynasty, though initially strong, faced significant challenges such as internal strife and difficulty governing the vast Chinese territories, leading eventually to its decline and overthrow by the native Chinese Ming dynasty in 1368.