Why did Kublai Khan move the Mongol capital to Dadu?

Kublai Khan moved the Mongol capital from Karakorum to Dadu (modern-day Beijing) primarily to establish a new political center that reflected his shift toward governing a sedentary society. While traditional Mongol ideology, championed by figures like Arigböge, favored maintaining the nomadic way of life in the steppes, Kublai Khan preferred to rule as an emperor over the highly developed civilization of China.1

By establishing Dadu, Kublai Khan integrated his administration into the heart of the region he conquered. This move allowed him to better manage the resources and trade of his empire, exemplified by the construction of the Tonghui Canal, which connected the city to the Grand Canal to facilitate the transport of tribute rice from the south. Dadu became the political center of all China, serving as a grand imperial capital that combined Chinese city planning with architectural styles from Mongolia and Central Asia.21