Thefolktalesinthiscollection，withagenuineChineseflavour，carryreadersbacktothebuildingofBeijingastheMing-dynastycapitalin1421.Dealingwiththecityslayout，someofitschiefmonuments，placenamesanddifferentlegends，theygivereadersfascinatingglimpsesofthelifeofrulersaswellasordinarypeople.