Opinion | China’s move to protect Beijing’s inner city is a bit late, but still worth welcoming

Wholesale bulldozing of communities – a common practice in the development of Chinese cities – has fallen out of favour in the capital

Beijing’s new approach to preservation needs to avoid old pitfalls such as kicking locals out to make way for those who can afford more luxurious property

Reading Time:2 minutes

Old structures, including statues like this one in 1998, were torn down near Beijing’s Forbidden City as money and power joined hands in property development. Photo: Mark Ralston

Published: 6:00pm, 7 Sep 2020Updated: 10:22pm, 7 Sep 2020

China’s latest plans for Beijing’s inner city are a bit late after decades of demolition and bulldozing in the heart of the ancient municipality, but they also bring hope that the moves could mark a turning point in the country’s urban development.

The urban area surrounding the Forbidden City has witnessed great changes since the founding of the People’s Republic in 1949, as municipal and national leaders have exerted their political will and preferences on the city’s appearance. And in turn, this has influenced the development of other cities across the country.

One highlight of Beijing’s inner-city plan, which covers the core part of China’s capital city through 2035, is that it has ruled out the wholesale bulldozing of communities – a common problem in China’s development of cities. The plan, endorsed by the ruling Chinese Communist Party, has made it clear that the old city of Beijing must be preserved and protected.

This will send a clear signal to municipal authorities across the country that the old model of “big demolition and big development” has fallen out of favour. For instance, a 2015 documentary, Chinese Mayor, showed how Geng Yanbo, the former mayor of Datong city, in the heart of China’s coal-mining country, flattened much of the city to build new “ancient walls” and “ancient streets”.

Beijing’s official recognition of the value of its city – the alleyways and courtyards in the shade of tall black locust trees, as well as a spread-out flat city structure dotted by palaces, temples and lakes – has come a long way. Mao Zedong, the founder of the People’s Republic, was not a fan of old “feudal” architecture structures. It was under Mao’s rule that the great old city walls of Beijing were torn down along with temples and pagodas.

The disappearance of Beijing’s old communities gathered speed when money and power joined hands in property development.

Beijing’s campaign of shutting down shops, restaurants and service posts in alleyways, in the name of preservation, destroys lifestyles and communities

As the old Beijing quickly vanished, the desire to preserve it from further excessive development found a consensus among local residents, the government and academics.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x