On August 5, UNESCO officially designated Beijing as the World Capital of Architecture for 2029. The selection committee praised Beijing for its successful integration of a rich architectural heritage with future-oriented sustainable urban development. Under the theme “Back To Balance,” the city will host a year‑long programme of exhibitions, conferences, educational events and public activities in 2029, alongside the International Union of Architects (UIA) World Congress. The World Capital of Architecture initiative, launched jointly by UNESCO and the UIA in 2019, is awarded every three years to the host city of the UIA Congress. Previous capitals include Rio de Janeiro (2020), Copenhagen (2023) and Barcelona (2026).