Water Town Beijing

Author: Wang Tongzhen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: Poetic misinterpretation, evoking a damp and cool ancient capital, historical Beijing was indeed a "water country" with dense forests and marshes, intricate streams and valleys, crisscrossing canals, and wells filled with gushing springs. For thousands of years, people have used wisdom and hard work to build a beautiful home and have created a magnificent "water culture." In the face of cities built of cement and steel, looking back at the silhouette of the ancient capital inevitably evokes endless reflections. This book depicts the history of Beijing's water environment for comparison with the present, allowing Beijingers concerned about this issue to understand what gains and losses we have had in this water history. In the form of text and images, the book traces the historical capital of Beijing, which was once "rivers and lakes crisscrossing, clear springs overflowing," resembling the water towns of Jiangnan. It calls for the revival of the water beauty of the ancient capital from the perspectives of water conservation and regulation.