New divisions in Beijing

 

Today, Beijing is no longer the city enclosed by walls, nor are its building complexes homogenous in style and enclosed by brick walls. As Beijing becomes more globalized, city planners are adopting western models to restructure its layout. Analytical frameworks such as the central-place theory and concentric ring theory have been considered. For example, the ring roads that wrap around the Forbidden City follow the concentric ring theory, which defines the centre of the city as the central business district and the embodiment of a city's unique characteristics (11). Up until now, six ring roads have been constructed (3). 

 

This development resembles a new form of fortification since they act as zonal boundaries.  Many residents consider the area within the second ring road to be the Inner City, while the land between the second and fourth ring roads contain many central business districts. Areas beyond the fifth ring road have been deemed outskirt areas. However, as the city expands more and more to accommodate new comers and businesses, all areas within the six ring roads are now considered to be part of the city of Beijing (7). The characteristic of the enclosed roads can be seen as a modern legacy of the old city walls, as they surround the ancient Imperial City, separating it from the hustle and bustle of modern Beijing. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The remnants of old city walls and gates are now tourist attractions or landmarks. They serve as a window to Beijing’s past and remind people of the divisions that used to exist within the city. Today, visitors from near and far come to see them and marvel at their engineering and history.

 

These structures serve as cultural symbols to the modern Chinese population, and preservation efforts have strengthened in the last decade…