Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
In 1911, the democratic revolution led by Dr. Sun Yat-sen broke out. It put an end
to the domination of feudal dynasties which had lasted over 2,000 years in China.
In 1919, the May Fourth Movement broke out in the old city of Beijing. It marked
the prelude to China's new democratic revolution.
After 30 years' hard and bitter struggles, the Chinese people succeeded in achiev-
ing their liberation in 1949. During the most arduous struggles, many people,
including the great internationalist Dr. Norman Bethune, sacrifi ced their lives.
On October 1, 1949, Comrade Mao Tsetung solemnly proclaimed the birth of the
People's Republic of China, on the rostrum of Tian An Men Gate (Heavenly Peace
Gate). The old city of Beijing became the capital of the People's Republic of China.
We were confronted then with a new question: How should we transform the old
capital planned and designed in the interest of the feudal emperors into a new capital
of the people who live in the new era of socialism?
We know very well that the guiding principle of the planning and designing of
the old city of Beijing was to extol the absolute power or autocratic monarch. Now
what should be the guiding principle of the overall planning of the new city of
Beijing which serves as the people's capital in the new socialist era?
I'll deal with this question in my next talk.
Thank you very much for your attention.
1.3
A Discussion on the New City Plan of Beijing
The transformation of the old city of Beijing started as soon as it was made the capi-
tal of the People's Republic of China, to meet the needs of a new era. In addition to
the establishment of a special city-planning institution, three guiding principles
have been formulated: it must serve fi rst, proletarian politics, second, industrial and
agricultural production, and third, the labouring people.
To serve proletarian politics means to turn the old city, which was constructed
in the past to satisfy the political needs of the feudal emperors, into a new one
which will best suit the political demands of a people's capital in the new era of
socialism.
To serve industrial and agricultural production means to turn the old city which
used to be the largest consumer centre in the country, into a base for modernised
industrial production and centre of well-developed suburban agriculture.
To serve the labouring people means to completely reform the slummy districts
swarming with working people in the past, and on an over-all scale, give preference
in our city planning to those projects of urban construction which will satisfy the
immediate needs in their lives. Under guidance of these three principles, great
achievements have been made in both the city planning and the construction of
Beijing and profound changes have been brought about in its functions and appear-
ance during the last 30 years. There are experiences of success as well as lessons of
disappointment in the process. However, to comment on them at length here would
