Costume, food, shelter and transportation are closely related to people's daily life. They are common daily activities, but reflect the values and characteristics of life in different periods in a region. Beijing was under the rule by ethnic minority regimes in the history, during which ethnic minority people interacted and integrated with each other. Consequently, they gradually evolved social and living customs with unique characteristics in costumes, food, shelter and transportation.

衣食住行,是与每个人都息息相关的日常活动,虽然再平常不过,却最能反映人们的价值观念,也最能反映出一个地区的人们在不同时期的生活特点。北京历史上长期受少数民族统治,多民族之间相互影响、相互融合,衣食住行各个方面都受到了不同程度的同化,从而形成了独具特色的生活习俗。