Imperial Capital (Ancient Charm on the Verge of Disappearance)

Author: Qiu Yang, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: The changes in Beijing truly surpass people's imagination. In just a few months or even days, coordinates on the map can vanish, turning into dust on construction sites. This ancient city is filled with so many new things that they obscure its original appearance. The feeling of hutongs, siheyuan courtyards, and narrow alleyways of ordinary households seems like it was just yesterday, yet many memories lack a physical place to revisit.
Six months have passed since the publication of the first issue of the "Flowing Years" thematic series, "The Ancient City, An Unforgettable Memorial." Our editorial has been well-received by many readers who love Beijing. However, as this was our first attempt at such a topic, there were bound to be omissions and regrets. The second issue of "Flowing Years," "The Imperial Capital, The Vanishing Ancient Charm," serves as a supplement and refinement to the first. We strive to tell and remember the fragments of this millennium-old city through more vivid topics.
Facing the large-scale demolition and construction of the city, we hope to record what we can see today—even if it's just fragments of material remnants or the bustling folk culture that has disappeared from the environment. In the first issue, we included an article with photos of Zhantai Hutong from over a year ago. At that time, the western entrance of Zhantai Hutong had just begun to be demolished, with ruins scattered everywhere. A few days ago, when we revisited Zhantai Hutong, we found that the western half of the hutong had completely vanished, with demolition extending from the western entrance, Ren'en Hutong, all the way to Lu Xun's former residence. Fortunately, Lu Xun's former residence was spared for now, but Zhang Henshu's former residence to the west has been lost forever. Zhantai Hutong, along with nearby Fengsheng Hutong, Wuding Hutong, and others, are among Beijing's oldest hutongs. Zhantai Hutong itself dates back to the Yuan Dynasty, having accompanied the city's urban journey. Yet now, this area is fragmented, with many exquisite grand courtyards demolished and only isolated concrete structures left behind, devoid of their historical context. History, after all, cannot be repeated.
Today, authentic elements in Beijing are becoming increasingly rare. Walking down the streets, whether towering buildings or wide avenues, all seem familiar. Uniformity has become the city's mainstream, crude designs replacing cultural continuity, and the warm, simple beauty can only be found in old photographs. In recent years, Beijing has lost too much of its tradition—hutongs have been demolished one after another, and fake antiques have been built in their place. Su'anbo is gone, the Flower Market is gone, South Xiaojie is gone, and Meishijie is gone. The rough Yongding Gate has been rebuilt, and an awkward Zhengyang Bridge archway has been erected. Recently, there were reports that the former residence of Cao Xueqin, which was demolished years ago for the construction of the Second Ring Road, would be rebuilt. Back then, many calls were made to preserve a real cultural relic, but now they plan to spend public resources to build a fake one—the right and wrong of it are clear.
In these demolitions and constructions, Beijing's culture is gradually becoming blurred, to the point where sometimes, walking down a wide street, I can't help but ask myself, is this Beijing? Beijing shouldn't just be about imperial grandeur; it should be more about the spirit of the common people, a tapestry of ordinary folk tales and legends. The "Flowing Years" we present to readers seeks to as closely as possible restore history to the people, using a series of vivid articles to commemorate and touch upon Beijing.
The words about the ancient Beijing in this issue come to a temporary end. Starting with the next issue, we will explore new topics. We hope our words can leave behind some genuine records and memorable reflections for this city. "Flowing Years" will always carry a responsibility—to bring the people the greatest possible truth.