Read the city

Author: Zhang Qinran
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: Preface: Capturing the Soul of a City
I was born in a city and grew up in one. In my youth, I studied abroad and visited some foreign cities, but I was always limited to seeing iconic landmarks and famous attractions. I rarely "read" them from a broader perspective of the city as a whole and its cultural background. Now, I realize I missed many opportunities to expand my knowledge and enjoy the experience. The idea of "reading" a city began to form in my mind in the late 1980s. At that time, I served as the Secretary-General of the China Institute of Architecture and had frequent opportunities to travel abroad for conferences or other matters. I longed to gain a deeper understanding of the cities I visited, hoping to sense their "soul." Gradually, I discovered that cities are humanity's most magnificent, sophisticated, complex, and profound creations. Although the "International Style" of the 20th century largely erased urban characteristics, every city remains unique due to its distinct natural, cultural, and historical backgrounds. What I want to "read" is where and why they differ from one another. This "reading," though superficial, has brought me much knowledge and joy. Some might ask, "Can you truly understand a city after just a few days of contact?" I was once hesitant too, but the act of "reading" itself gave me confidence. Homer's epics, for instance, may require scholars proficient in the original language to study them, but without a broad readership (some of whom may only read abridged versions), their greatness would be diminished. The same applies to Dream of the Red Chamber—everyone has the right to read it, to admire Baoyu, curse Fengjie, dislike Jia Zheng, and so on, without necessarily needing to know how Qin Keqing died to qualify as a "reader." First impressions often bring a rare authenticity. Any outsider who has visited Beijing, Shanghai, or Xi'an—even if they stay in each place for only a day—will acknowledge their unique characteristics, and some can even elaborate on them. Conversely, those who have lived in these cities for a long time (like me) may take many of their "characteristic" features for granted and struggle to articulate them. Hemingway spent a lot of time in Parisian bars, and his novel The Sun Also Rises depicts this life. Yet, it didn’t help me understand Paris better. Impressions, of course, are subjective. I once had an American architect friend who visited Beijing twice. After returning, he wrote an essay describing an experience of "soft authoritarianism" in Beijing, using the tree-lined highway from the capital airport to the city as an example. I’ve traveled this highway many times, yet I never thought of it in relation to "authoritarianism." This subjectivity is inevitable. The same applies to reading books. For example, people who have read Dream of the Red Chamber have different impressions of Fengjie. That’s why I advocate more people "read" cities. You, I, and everyone else should approach cities as we do novels, poems, or paintings—capturing first impressions, visiting landmarks, but not overlooking the "host body" (the myriad ordinary houses); observing people’s activities, and, when possible, reading one or two books about them (including guidebooks). Then, reflect on what makes them unique or how they differ from other cities. In this way, you’ve essentially taken a lively cultural lesson. Over the past decade or so, I’ve also accumulated some of my own "reading" experiences and developed a set of "self-pleasing" methodologies (see the section in this book). I always try to "read" a city from several perspectives: nature versus human-made, iconic versus ordinary buildings, new versus old architecture, modes of transportation versus dining spots, and so on. Additionally, I always visit a few buildings designed by local architects because they often embody the city’s "soul." To my surprise, when I attempt to "read" a city, the city itself often reciprocates, sometimes to the point of engaging in dialogue. The more a city cherishes its unique characteristics, the stronger this dialogue becomes. On the other hand, cities blindly pursuing "modernization and internationalization" can only leave people with a sense of cultural loss. For this reason, I’ve written down some of my "reading" insights. With the support of Dushu (Reading) and World Knowledge, I’ve published several articles in both journals. Now, I’ve compiled them, added new pieces, refined the text, and especially selected some photographs to present to readers who are to "read" cities, wishing them joy and in their journey.
Zhang Qinran
June 2000
Cities are humanity's most magnificent, sophisticated, complex, and profound creations. Although the "International Style" of the 20th century largely erased urban characteristics, every city remains unique due to its distinct natural, cultural, and historical backgrounds. Cities are indeed like books—buildings are the "words," streets are the "sentences," neighborhoods are the chapters, and parks are the "interludes." Through them, readers encounter "people"—the living of the present and the deceased of the past. As Churchill once said, "People create buildings, and buildings shape people." cities also forge their own unique cultures. I advocate more people "read" cities. You, I, and everyone else should approach cities as we do novels, poems, or paintings—capturing first impressions, visiting landmarks, but not overlooking the "host body" (the myriad ordinary houses), and visiting a few buildings designed by local architects because they often embody the city’s "soul."