Liang Chen Plan and Beijing

Author: Liang Sicheng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: The old Beijing city is like a comprehensive series of books, another "Yongle Dadian." As the capital region, it possesses all the functions of a major national capital, including court ceremonies, rituals, administration, cultural education, religion, logistics, workshops, storage, security, entertainment, residential life, urban commerce, finance, and services, etc. All these functional systems have corresponding architectural systems, each with its own way of life. It is these architectural systems that constitute the body of old Beijing. Within this body lies a wealth of historical and cultural heritage—so vast that it is "as numerous as the hairs on an ox," yet for the historical and cultural remnants of old Beijing, what has been written is merely a tiny fraction of the whole. Moreover, no matter how much is written or how extensively, it cannot match the richness, vitality, and fullness of the old city itself. Today, the opportunity to comprehensively protect old Beijing has been lost. Many key elements are gone, and it is impossible to comprehensively protect the old city anymore. This is an undeniable fact, no matter how many news reports are written or how many "theories" are proposed. It is better to honestly acknowledge the current situation and do what we can.
—Chen Zhihua
In February 1950, Mr. Liang Sicheng and Mr. Chen Zhanshang jointly proposed the "Proposal on the Location of the Administrative Center of the Central People's Government," known as the "Liang-Chen Plan." Its content was not merely a narrow interpretation of Liang Sicheng opposing the demolition of the city walls. It was also not just about preserving the of the old Beijing city. The "Liang-Chen Plan" embodied the world's most advanced urban development concepts and was a comprehensive, systematic urban planning and design proposal. Adhering to the principle of "balancing the past and the present, benefiting both the old and the new," Mr. Liang and Mr. Chen scientifically planned the capital of the new China. On one hand, starting from the concept of comprehensive protection, they recommended relocating the central administrative center to the western suburbs to create more space for the sustainable development of future Beijing, avoiding large-scale demolition, reducing economic costs, and naturally maintaining the city's social structure and cultural ecology. On the other hand, they proposed the principle of balanced urban development to enhance the unity of residential and employment areas across different parts of the city and prevent cross-regional transportation. For well-known reasons, the "Liang-Chen Plan" was not adopted.
The "Liang-Chen Plan" is a historical document. Today, its value lies in telling us that over fifty years ago, old Beijing had a choice of "complete protection," and the new Beijing once faced a prospect of developing alongside the great historical heritage of Beijing, shining in harmony and splendor. Mr. Liang Sicheng once said, "Fifty years from now, history will prove that I was right." Now, fifty years have passed, and the old and new Beijing are still trapped in a tragic struggle, with the resulting urban problems affecting every person in the city. Look at the Beijing around us, and it seems we are living within the "prophecy" of the "Liang-Chen Plan." Today, we must sincerely say to our predecessors, history and reality have become footnotes to your past struggles. Reflecting on that history is precisely the stance we must adopt toward the future.
The "Liang-Chen Plan" is a document that can never be implemented again, and history cannot return to the past. Despite their unfortunate fates, the predecessors have gained the meaning of sharing the destiny of a great city.