Beijing - Earliest History as The Capital of China
Beijing became the Capital of China for the first time during the years of the Liao Dynasty (907 AD - 1125 AD), of which remnants can still be found in the city today.
The Liao Dynasty, who are also known as the Khitan Empire arose in North China, Mongolia and Manchuria immediately after the Fall of the Tang Dynasty Empire in 907 AD.
Before counterbalanced by the might of Tang Forces, after their Fall the Khitan People managed to conquer considerable parts of China before being absorbed by the Jurchen Jin Dynasty of later years. The Liao Dynasty was established in 907 AD, and some decennia later in 938 AD, they established a secondary capital in what is now Beijing. Under the Liao Dynasty it was named Nanjing (the "Southern Capital") opposing the Northern Capital Shangjing in Inner-Mongolia. It was also known as Yanjing.
Ching Dynasty Beijing (1644 AD - 1911 AD)
Throughout the Ming Dynasty and subsequent Ching Dynasty (1644 -1911 AD ) the Imperial Capital expanded. The Center of the City, the area within the City Walls however remained essentially unchanged. The Ching inherited the City and its lay-out from the Ming Dynasty and even within the Imperial Palace only minor changes were made to accomodate the new Powers.
The major other change made inside the City during the 200 years of reign of the Qing dynasty, was the evolution of a large-scale garden scenic area in the northwest district and later the suburbs of Beijing. The Qianlong Emperor of the Ching Dynasty was particularly active in making changes and additions to the Palace and imperial Gardens. Other Emperors, among whom XianFeng and Empress-Dowager Cixi followed suit in later periods.
Beijing after 1911 and the Fall of the Ching Dynasty.
The Final Demise of the Ching Dynasty in the 1911 AD Xinhai Revolution, which later turned out to have been a Coup D'Etat, only did more to internationalize the beforehand closed Imperial City. Already had railroad been accepted, and even the Empress-Dowager herself had ridden such a steaming and breathing Iron Monster upon her return to the City. The Timeless City was about to change, a lot ! It was only the beginning of a turbulent 100 Years.
Beijing during the Ming Dynasty (1368 AD - 1644 AD)
At the end of the important but short-lived Yuan Dynasty the City now known as Beijing briefly lost it's Capital Status to Southern Nanjing during the first 2 reigns of the Ming Dynasty. However, during the 3rd Reign (1403 AD - 1425 AD) of the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644 AD ), in 1406 AD, the Capital City was moved back from southern Nanjing to BeiPing, renaming it Beijing.
The original lay-out of today's Beijing, with a Central Axis running North-South through the City, and the Forbidden City's Main Ceremonial Throne Hall (TaiheDian) in the exact center of everything was created on orders of 3rd Ming Emperor Zhu Di, Yongle. He also ordered the construction of Tiantan, the Temple of Heaven Park and the Temple and Altar of Agriculture, oversaw large reconstructions and improvements on the Great Wall throughout China and expanded the Grand Canal further to reach Beijing. Last but not least the Yongle Emperor ordered the construction of the large Shisan Ling Ming Tombs in the Province, North of Beijing.
The Imperial Place of the Yuan Dynasty was torn down, although a small remnant remains within Beihai Park as the round City and ruins can be found in the North of the Old City. The new Palace of the Ming Dynasty Emperors arose more to the South of the Mongol Palace, with City Walls and a Hill created from debris of the Palace of the conquered Dynasty North and behind it, to honor Feng Shui Traditions.
A Shematic Map of Beiping (Beijing) and immediate vicinity in the Year 1912 AD, using the Old (and oudated) naming sytem.
After the 1900 AD the Power of the Foreigners over China could only be briefly consolidated and the First World War in Europe and the Russian Revolution changed everything soon. However, in the brief interbellum Beijing's Foreign Character blossomed, and among things, within the City several large Churches were constructed. Due West and East of the current Square of Heavenly Peace (Tian'An Men Square) only remnants remind of this period, however upon the ruins of the destroyed Legations an even more Grandiose City arose. The now thoroughly internationalizing City saw more modernizations, including the opening of the Xizhimen (Beijing North) Railway Station, constructed in 1905 AD, and the construction and opening of the Beijing Hotel, a new and luxury facility for (usually) important international travelers such as diplomats, generals, artists, politicians and businessmen. The Beijing Hotel still proudly occupies its a-class location on the Corner of Wanfujing Street and Chang'An (Eternal Peace) Boulevard
During the Ming Era Beijing arose as an organized City with a Central Axis running from YongdingMen in the South through QianMen Gate Tower and the Imperial Palace City to pass through Jingshan Hill and end at the Ancient Beijing Bell Tower (Zhong Lou). Its Imperial City Walls were thick and designed to "Keep in the Imperial Air". The Capital resembled a giant bee-hive, the many expendable workers on the outside, the soldiers and scholars within, and in the very Center - The Inner Court of the so called "Forbidden City" lived the Imperial Family and The Emperor.
Travelers to the City had to carry permits from the Provincial Mandarin Governor(s) along their way and were obliged to move up along the Central Axis of the City for their arrival. Only those with special invitations were allowed within the confines of the Ming City Walls. Throughout the ages of the Ming Rule it was a busy coming and going of Peoples. Merchants, trading caravans, emissaries and diplomatic missions, evangelists and missionaries, all passed back and forth to visit the most important City in the Nation.
It was during the Ming Dynasty Era that the First Westerners visited Beijing. The very first Christian Missionary was Matteo Ricci, who first arrived at Beijing on the 7th September of the year 1598 AD, after first entering China through far away Macau in 1582 AD. The Jesuit Priest was turned away from the Gates upon his 1st visit, but later, after 1598 AD he was allowed entry and even permitted residence, thus becoming the founder of the first Christian Church in Beijing, now the location of the South Cathedral, Nan Tang.
Architectural Lay-out of Beijing's Imperial Palace as it stands today -click to go to Map- .
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Throughout the Ming Dynasty and the majority of the Ching Dynasty, Beijing was a much greener City than it is today. In fact, although it could not compete with such water rich cities as Shanghai and Suzhou in South China, Beijing was built in an area through which several rivers flowed. Within the City itself ran a green belt formed by the many lakes of Jishuitan, and many more small rivers flowed through the City.
Outside of and encircling the City was the wide and deep city Moat which in turn provided connection to the historic Grand Canal - the longest man-made river in Human History- through the South-East corner and a connection to Tongzhou Village.
Schematic Map of the Lay-out of Beijing as the Imperial Capital during the Ming Dynasty and Ching Dynasty Era's.
Not all Rivers are depicted on the Map. Mouse over Image to reveal Moat and Connection to the Grand Canal of the Ming Dynasty at Tongzhou.
Each Shalan had its own products and community. Leaving the Community was forbidden and unheard of.
Ming Era were fused into city districts, with a less strict economical arrangements for their inhabitants.
The Green waterways of Old Beijing, as still preserved today in the Qianhai Lake near the Bell & Drum-Towers.
A view of GuoZiJian Road, its Wooden Pailou and surrounding shops. The GuoZiJian Pailou is one of few such Arch Gates to remain in the City.
Via the Grand Canal grains and others supplies reached the now huge Imperial City. Ships traveled up & down, with large vessels being able to sail on the City Moat.
Goods and Wares where then transferred to smaller boats for transport into the City. Even within the city the majority of transport
took place over water rather than over land and through the many small Hutongs within the City. During the early Ming Dynasty Beijing was strictly separated into various Hutong Area's, the Fang, with inside of them fence enclosed communities known as Shalan, each of which functioned as the home, ghetto and economical unit of that area. Shalanzan were designated by Name and their borders visibly marked by Beijing's now almost disappeared Wooden Pailou Gates. Each Pailou designated another Shalanzan. Each Shalan was the closed home of Generations of People, all of whom plied the same skills and trade as their ancestors.
Beijing's Ming Dynasty Era Observatory which was run for the Imperial Court by Jesuits Priests during the later Ming Dynasty and beyond.
As the lay-out of even the current city was largely created in the Yongle Reign of the Ming Dynasty, there are too many noteworthy landmarks of this Era dotting the City and wider Region to mention here. However, it must be noted that the most Famous Chinese Landmark of all, The Great Wall of China was created in its remaining form during the Ming Dynasty. Much of the extensive works on this staggering feat of Public Engineering were intended to protect the Capital City of Beijing and several defensive layers were constructed to encircle the City. Thus, among many historic monuments of Beijing, the nearby Great Wall of China ranks as the number one legacy left to the City by this Great Dynasty and its Emperors.
Ranked second on the list of Monumental architecture left by the Ming is not their magnificent Imperial Palace, but the now nearly forgotten Grand Canal, the sleuce gates of which were located at Tongzhou Village, now a district of the Megametropolis of Beijing.
After these two most Monumental Achievements follow the many other Grand Historic Monuments created as part of the architecture of the Ming Dynasty Era Imperial Capital. These are the Imperial Palace, now the Palace Museum, the Temple of Heaven and 7 other Holy Altars in & around the City, the 13 Ming Tombs (Shisan Ling) sometimes mentioned as the "Chinese Valley of the Kings", Jingshan - Coal Hill, the highest point in the City until at least 1970 AD, the former City Walls of Beijing, the Ancient Observatory of Beijing and a multitude of Temples.
A Last Monument that must not be forgotten is the Ancient Bell Tower of the City. Although originally constructed as a wooden tower in slightly earlier Era, it was rebuilt in stone and outfitted with a large Bell, which told the Time and dictated the rhythm of Life in the City for all throughout the Ming Dynasty years and long beyond.
The Ancient Stone Bell Tower of Beijing, for centuries the Highest Building in the City (Tianning Pagoda and its twin were higher but stood outside the City Walls).
Map o/t Great Wall of China Ming Dynasty
The Most Famous Shalan of all Time is the Da Shalan, a street which may be regarded as a mere Hutong but which however rose to Great Fame during the Ching Dynasty Era (1644 AD - 1911 AD). Dashalan was a shopping street and home to the better Guilds of Jewelry, Stone Cutting and similar handicrafts. As a result, the big shopping street had large Iron Gates which were open during daytime business hours, but which closed after the Old Bell Tower struck the evening watch. After that hour, a night curfew was imposed, its big impressive gates were locked and bolted until another day arrived.
A view of Dashilan East Street in November 2007 AD just before major restaurantions and reorganization of the entire Qianmen-Dashilan Area.
strategic location outside the QianMen, main city gate and just off the Central Axis of the City, the Ching Era saw Dashilar Street rise to be the number one commercial Street in Beijing. The success of Wanfujing Street came much later.
Outside the Shalan the rivers and canals of Beijing were the roads used to transport and distribute wares throughout the City. Further distribution within the Shalanzan was done by ox cart, mule cart or just by man-power. This situation changed later on, as the City grew and the 1090 Shalan of the
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attack. Within no Time two Foreign Emissaries were murdered in the Streets after which the lid was of the Pandora's Box of Chinese Frustrations.
The City descended into chaos as local citizens and even the Ching Armies joined in support. Foreigners ran for their lives across the City as several Foreign Buildings were looted and/or burnt. Around China missionaries fled or were killed and in Beijing the now encircled Legations defended by a few hundred Foreigners suffered terrible shelling.
The Hanlin Academy (on North Canal Street, now Zheng Yi Road), one of China's highest Institutes of Scholars was destroyed with its valuable Library in an attempt to smoke out the defenders of the large British Legation compound next door. Sympathetic Ching Troops held positions on the City Wall firing freely into the small Foreign Quarter and in the end, the Legations that lay-in-waste, were relieved by powerful Foreign Armies.
Hints of the Last remainders of the Hanlin Academy Shrine of Scholars, now restored within the secured grounds of the new National Ministry of Security (North end of Zheng Yi Road (former Canal Street) in November 2007 AD near the end of constructions).
Foreigners had their way with the City. The Imperial Palace was looted and Foreigners held a Victory Parade inside the Outer Court.
As a result The Imperial Palace was expanded several Times. During the Qianlong Reign of the Ching Dynasty, Beihai Park (North Lake) was expanded, reconstructed and included as a part of the Imperial palace City. Next was the Lake constellation that lay to the East of the Palace (Forbidden City), and the ZhongNanHai Lake - Central and Southern Lake Area was turned into an Imperial Garden.
Later, during the Reign of Empress-Dowager Cixi (Guanxu Period), the Western Jesuit Cathedral in Beijing, which was located at Canshikou inside the Zhongnanhai complex of today was bought out, and rebuilt a new a new location in order to create some privacy for those living in the Imperial Gardens of Zhongnanhai next door. Thus, the Western Cathedral became the Northern Church (Saint Savior), the largest and most Luxury Church in the City.
And that was not all. Beijing did not only grow a green heart, it developed a whole series of Leisure Gardens on scenic locations just outside of the City.
Specifically the Northern and Northwestern Corner of the City grew into a huge traditional
Beijing's Northern Church, rebuilt at Xishiku as the Church of the Saint Savior.
garden full of Canals, Rockeries, Hill Tops and Pagoda's, most reserved exclusivily for the priviliged city Elite. Outside the City Walls (in what is now Haidian District) there were several large temporary palaces available to the Imperial Family for further leisure. The Main two Palaces that remain today are the First Summer palace of the Ching Dynasty - the Garden of perfect Brightness (Yuan Ming Yuan), and its later constructed replacement the YiheYuan (or Qingyi Garden) - Garden of Perfect Peace constructed on orders of Empress-Dowager Hsu-Tzi (Cixi).
In 1750 AD, Qianlong -one of the great Emperors of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, had summoned the best designers and landscapers in China to his
One of the remnants of ancient Beijing's many Canals, an old bridge on Dianmen Wai Dajie', due North of Jingshan Hill in the Dongcheng District.
service in order to create what was to become one of the most beautiful estates in China and in fact the whole world.
In a since unrivalled feat of artistic creation a workforce of around 100.000 workers reproduced the styles of different gardens and palaces from throughout the Empire.
The central lake of the Yuan Ming Garden was modelled on Hangzhou’s West Lake, with islands, temples and the magnificent 17-arch bridge.
Qianlong also remodelled the Temple of Gratitude and Longevity in honour of his mother’s birthday, and the 'three hills and five gardens' of West Beijing became legendary throughout the country due to improvements aproved by him.
Apart from the two famous gardens there are three mountains and three more gardens in the northwest suburbs of Beijing, that is, Yuquanshan Mountain, Xiangshan Mountain (Incense Burning Peak at Fragrant Hills Park in Haidian District) and Longevity Mountain as well as Jingming Garden, Jingyi Garden and last the Changchun Garden.
The Ching Dynasty Capital of Beijing was famed for its beautifully named Regal Gardens and their various unique elements. There were the Garden of Clear Ripples (which later served as the basis for the YiheYuan new Summer Palace), the Wanchun Ting - Everlasting Spring Pavilion atop Jingshan Hill, The Garden of Perfection and Brightness, The Garden of Tranquillity and Brightness and the Garden of Tranquillity and Pleasure.
Still renowned Monuments of this Time are the Longevity Hill at the Summer Palace Park (YiHeYuan), Jade Spring Mountain, and Fragrant Hills (now a Park) with (inside) WoFo Si - Temple of the Reclining Buddha and Baiyun Si, the Temple of the Azure Clouds.
By 1900 AD The Foreign Presence in Beijing and elsewhere in China would provoke the so-called "Boxers" into open warfare against Foreign Influence and large parts of the City were affected in the next few years.
To begin with, the Boxers took over large parts of Shandong Province and Hebei and cut the connections to the Capital (among things at Lugou Qiao - Marco Polo Bridge). Then, the City itself - the Political Center of the Empire as well as the homebase of the Hated Foreigners - fell under
The Emperors of the Qing Dynasty traveled out of the City to their Temporary Palace by water during which the court and Government moved with them. Wherever the Emperor traveled he would continue to manage and dictate essential national affairs while visiting the nearby mountains and their holy tempels, or enjoying boat rides and the waters. During the last decades of the 20Th Century, the Empress-Dowager Cixi even made the new Summer Palace (YiHeYuan) her permanent residence for a while.
Find today's last remnants of the Canal that connected the Imperial Palace inside the City with the Summer Palace oustide of it in the shape of the Qianhai, Houhai and Xihai Lakes, after which the Imperial Boat would turn into the wide City Moat which led Westward to a Lake, the WeiTang. From Wei Tang further Canals led west to the Summer Palace (YiheYuan) and Waters.
The Wei Tang no longer exists and has been filled in. Likewise, the year 1905 AD saw the last remnant of waterflow from the West into the City Moat cut by the Construction of the Xizhimen Station. Today the flow has been restored, however it moves underground north-east of Beijing Zoo to re-emerge about a kilometer due West of Deshengmen City Gate. The City Moat, or what is left of it can be
Map of Beijing and Wider Region in 1875 AD
A Shematic Map of Beiping (Beijing) and wider City Province in the Year 1875 AD using the Old (and oudated) naming sytem. Map depicts major and minor roads, villages and Towns, Walled City of Beijing, Old and New Summer Palaces, The Fragrant Hills and the Western Hills, Tongzhou Village, Shunyi Village, Changping Village, the Ming Tombs Valley, Badaling Village, the Badaling Great Wall of China, Nankou Village, Nankou Great Wall of China Pass, and various other notable locations in the wider vicinity of the Capital of Beijing at the Time. Other details on this Map: mountains, lakes. There were no railroads in the area untill 1899AD/1900 AD.
seen in the form of a concrete canal flowing alongside and just outside the Second Ring Road. Follow the route on the adjacent Map of Beijing and Region in 1875 AD, or head down to Beijing Zoo and/or The Five Pagoda Temple in Haidian to see the water flow for yourself.
The City grew in size and during the Ching Era the Hutong of all districts saw some minor re-arrangements on orders of the Imperial City Administration.
During the End of the Ching Dynasty Rule, particularly after China's defeat in the First Opium War (1840 AD - 1842 AD), Beijing saw many changes appear. Only twenty years after the first War, invading Foreign Forces arrived at the outskirts of the Capital City. With Emperor Xianfeng fleeing the City the Foreigners ordered the looting and burning of his beloved YuanMingYuan - the Garden of Perfect Brightness, his Summer Palace (in Haidian District). Today only ruins remain of what was once regarded as the "Most Beautiful Garden in the World".
In 1887 AD during the Guanxu Reign the Imperial Palace was enlarged in a westerly direction incorporating the ZhongnanHai Area into the Imperial City, with a Gate directly connecting both.
At the same time the construction of a brandnew Summer Palace, a complex called the YiheYuan and based upon the earlier Qianlong Garden of Clear Ripples, was completed in the Year 1888 AD. Built at Great Expense, the creation of this Last of the Grand Regal Gardens nearly emptied the State Coffers, however today it remains as one of the Lasting contributions left to the City of Beijing and the Nation by the Emperors of the Ching Dynasty. Now
Sundown at the YiHeYuan Summer Palaces' Kunming lake with the Western Hills and a Pagoda at the Fragrant Hills Park looming in the misty distance (May 2005 AD).
open to the Public and designated a World Cultural Heritage Site, the YiheYuan Park in Beijing is one of only two preserved such Gardens in the World. The other one is located at Chengde (Hebei Province), where the XianFeng Emperor of the Ching Dynasty had another Summer Palace constructed, the Palace known as Fleeing the Heat Mountain Villa (Bishu Shanzhuang).
Only minor changes were made to the City of Beijing after the construction of the YiheYuan, leaving very roughly the layout of the (Central) City today, minus TiananMen Square, packed with interesting sites to visit and enjoy.
In another note-worthy evolution, the City Walls around the southern districts of Chongwen and Xuanwu-, which had been started during the Ming Dynasty, were completed somewhere during the Ching Dynasty Era.
Just outside of the City, the Grandiose Garden and Large Palace that had arisen, the new Summer Palace of the Emperor, was in reality under control of notorious Empress-Dowager Cixi. For the Time being she officially resided inside the Forbidden City, enjoying her Gardens at Zhongnanhai (since without the prying eyes of Foreign Jesuits viewing from their Western Cathedral Tower into Zongnanhai), but soon the Empress-Dowager would have to move away from the Central City, taking the Emperor Guanxu with her.
The industrial revolution was brought onto China by War, and afterwards the first railroads and train stations appeared near the Capital- the first reaching up to Qianmen and breaching the Outer Wall-, and European Styled Buildings arose on the Imperial doorstep in an area occupied by Foreigners and their Armed Forces growing into the Beijing Legations Quarter. New shops opened and thrived, including Liu Lichang Street, a place where some relics looted from the Palaces ended up. Other places that thrived upon the changing situations arising in China and Beijing since 1860/62 AD were the Tianqiao and Qianmen Area's of Beijing. The first already the cultural center of Beijing and the home of many renowned Peking Opera Theatres, was transformed by the arrival of westerners and their new invention - the cinema. In only a few short years the Tianqiao "Theatre Street" spawned among things the First Ever Chinese Film Studio (Fengtai Studio commemorated at Dashilan Street and in the Film: "Shadow Magic") and a bundle of some 20 to 25 film theatres. The Qianmen Area and Dashilan Street (to be correct: Dashilar in BJ local slang, and Dashalan historically) were already centers of High Commerce in the City long before the Foreigners arrived, however the City saw a new boom in business from Foreign influx of currency, as well as a boom in trade from the down-trodden Royal House and their extensive following. At the Time, many of the Noble Families in Beijing were in such dire positions that they had to sell their Family Antiques and other historic relics in order to get by. Since the most renowned stores were located at Dashalan, many of the Antiques, Gold and Jewelries were traded through establishments in this Area. It would be the last moments of Glory for Dashilan, as time was now quickly running out. Turmoil was about to overtake China and sack the economy.
Read More of the Early History of Beijing in:
Beijing City from the Liao Dynasty to the Yuan Dynasty (938 AD - 1368 AD)
Read More of the Early History of Beijing in:
Beijing City between the Fall of the Ching and the Japanese Occupation (1937 AD - 1945 AD)
