Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 1.3
Watercourses in the adjacent areas of Zhongdu City of Jin Dynasty
ѝ䜭
Zhongdu City,
㾯ኡ
West Mountains,
▎≤
Lu River,
⦹⋹ኡ
Yu-quan (Pearl Spring)
Hill,
䠁ਓ⋣
Jinkou Canal,
䰨⋣
Sluice Canal,
⋏⋣
Lugou River,
⋏ẕ
Lugou Bridge,
⎧
⏰
Haidian,
ཚᆱᇛ
Tai-ning Palac
e
of calendar, but also specialized in surveying and water conservancy. Guo Shou-jing
and his teacher Liu Bing-zhong cooperated very well with each other and formed a
core of leadership in the city construction. They also invited many skilled masons
whose ancestors had engaged in masonry for generations from the Taihang Mountains
to participate in the construction of the new city. Among these stonemasons, there
were two noted folk artisans of stonework by the names of Yang Qiong and Yang
Hao. Besides, assisting in the building of the city were some foreign craftsmen who
were from Middle Asia. The construction of the new city started in 1267. The new
city was named Dadu (Grand Capital), out of which the present city of Beijing grew.
Here I'd like to raise the following two questions, whose answers may help us to
have a better understanding of the development of the present city of Beijing.
1. What made them decide to give up the old town of Zhongdu and build the new
city of Dadu instead?
2. How was the site of the new city of Dadu selected? How was the planning of the
new city made?
