Obliteration of the Distinctive Contour of the Old City of Beijing

CHP: China Heritage Update 16 Oct 2005

On the 18^th of September of 2002, the municipal government of Beijing promulgated “The Plan for the Protection of the Historical City of Beijing”, which set forth three clear provisions for the preservation of the distinctive contour of the old city, resembling the shape of the Chinese character “凸”: on the east and west perimeters of the old city, a green belt 30 meters wide is to be maintained; the moat on the north and south perimeters is to be strictly protected, forming a green belt on those sides of the city; and the towers and the remains of the city walls are to be retained.

The plan emphasizes that the protection of the distinctive contour of the old city has special significance for Beijing: on the one hand, the “凸” shape of the city is one of the city’s most distinctive characteristics. The city walls, gates, moat, inner city, outer city, and so forth—there is nothing that does not bear a close connection with the “凸” shape. If those contours can be retained, then much of the cultural significance of the city will not be lost. Indeed, under the onslaught of the real estate developers, the city’s “凸” contours become the city’s remaining symbol. Once the contours are broken, the old city will never regain its integrity, and the concept of the old city will be obliterated. Talk of preservation of the old city will be nonsense. If one is to preserve the old city of Beijing, then one must preserve its “凸” shape.

Nonetheless, after on the ground observation, we have discovered that the contours of the old city are now being infringed upon in the following ways:

1. Contempt has been shown for the concept of the 30 meter wide green belt on the east and west sides of the old city, where the old city wall used to be. Some new buildings and some recently altered buildings occupy land that should be part of this green belt. These offending buildings include the Guangda International Center on the inside of West Second Ring Road South Section (see illustration #1) and Shiji Real Estate Planning Building on the Central Section of East Second Ring Road (see illustration #2). Moreover, there are some buildings that have a bit of greenery in front, but the sole purpose of that greenery is to embellish the entrances to the buildings, not to provide symbolic representation of the old city walls. An example is the Jin Rong Building on the inside of the South Section of West Second Ring Road (see illustration #3).

illustration #1:

illustration #2:

illustration #3:

2. The building of major traffic arteries has already obscured the clear contours of the old city at certain crucial points, such as Dong Bian Men, Xi Bian Men, and Dong Zhi Men. At the present time, the construction of a major thoroughfare in the northwest corner of the old city, has worsened the situation (see illustration #4). Some new construction work, the purpose of which is not clear, has also begun at the Tower of Dong Bian Men, making the future of the wall near the Tower uncertain (see illustration #5).

illustration #4:

3. A few projects which are being flaunted as top international level buildings are illegally occupying land on the inside of the Second Ring Road . They are not only destroying the style and features of the old city, but are also damaging the smooth contours of the old city. The New Poly Plaza that is now being built on the southwest corner of the intersection of East Second Ring Road and Dongsi Shitiao (see illustration #6), is possibly trying to compete in majesty with the old City Wall Towers, but in fact just appears uncouth and overbearing.

illustration #6:

4. Some portions of the moat on the north and south sides of the city are being suitably protected and are beginning to take the form of green belts protecting the old city (see illustration #7). But the concept of the moat and its green belt defining the entire contours of the old city contours has yet to materialize. Some sections of the northern moat are extremely narrow (see illustration #8), and others have been blocked by roads (see illustration #9).

The 凸 shape marked the defensive perimeters of the old city. Those old perimeters are still there, but encroachment on them clearly underway. If the encroachment becomes more severe, then the perimeters will collapse. It is the right of every individual to closely inspect and to constructively report all such encroachments on the old city.

illustration #7:

illustration #9:

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