Intrigued about what secrets lie within an area called Triangle Area? This is Beijing. This is where history whispers and modern life pulses. Today we explore the Triangle Area.
The Triangle Area might not be what you expect. It is not some ancient fortification. It is not a Qing Dynasty relic. It is actually a modern space within Peking University. We can still weave a tale of Beijing. It was once a city defined by walls.
Let’s step back to the Beijing of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Beijing was more than just a city. It was a carefully constructed fortress. Walls within walls protected its heart. The Forbidden City held the emperor. The Imperial City housed his support system. The Inner and Outer cities sheltered the populace.
Imagine walls stretching 60 kilometers. They featured gate towers and watchtowers. Barbicans guarded entrances. A moat system snaked around the city. Beijing possessed Imperial China’s most extensive defense.
The Yuan Dynasty’s Dadu predates these Ming and Qing walls. General Xu Da of the Ming Dynasty captured Dadu in 1368. He rebuilt the northern walls to make the city more defensible. Zhu Di, later the Yongle Emperor, moved the capital to Beijing in 1421. This spurred massive construction. The southern city walls shifted to accommodate the Imperial City.
The city expanded again between 1436 and 1445. Walls gained extra brick layers. Gate towers rose. Watchtowers kept watch. Stone bridges replaced wooden ones. These expansions created a formidable defense. It stretched over 22 kilometers.
Mongol invasions were frequent. An outer city was proposed in 1476. A large rectangular outer city wall appeared south of the original in 1553. This shape resembled the Chinese character “凸”.
The Qing Dynasty maintained this defense system. They redesigned the Imperial City. Han Chinese were forced to the Outer City. The Inner City became Manchu territory.
By 1900 Beijing’s fortifications were starting to show its age. The Boxer Rebellion caused much damage. Foreign troops breached the walls. Railways cut through them.
The Republic of China made minor adjustments. But large-scale demolition began after 1949. Architect Liang Sicheng fought to preserve the walls. He envisioned a circum-city park. But the need for development won. The walls came down.
The Metro’s construction from 1965 sped up demolition. The metro line followed the path of the walls. Walls turned into ditches.
Some sections survived. Zhengyangmen’s gate tower stands tall. Deshengmen’s watchtower still watches. The southeastern corner guard tower remains. These relics whisper tales of Beijing’s walled past.
Today Beijing expands far beyond its old walls. Yet the memory of these fortifications persists. They shaped the city’s layout and its history. They remind us of an era of emperors and sieges. The Triangle Area represents a new chapter. It signifies growth and innovation. But remember the walls. They were Beijing’s embrace. They are part of its story. They are a crucial part of what makes Beijing so unique.