>>/40665/
It still is but it's just a bit different. Chinese culture originated in the area that Beijing is now, in the north(Beijing means northern Capital). That's where the ancient Chinese dynasties and ancient Chinese history in general originated. Much of southern China used to be occupied by Viets until the Han dynasty invaded, even then there was still a bit of a divide and most often the capital was still somewhere in the north(even Nanjing is still not really in the south even though Nanjing means southern Capital). Even to this day the south speak Cantonese whereas the north speak mandarin. The south was histrionically poorer as well(the Beiyang army actually had to lower the height requirement for southern soldiers due to them being smaller on average) but maybe that is not true now as much of the wealth and business of China is now located in southern cities.