Bell Tower and Drum Tower Square: the vanishing Beijing "star of asia"

2010.The United States of America"Time" magazine in its selection"Asia"Star, willBeijingThe Bell Tower and Drum Tower area is listed as "the most worth a visit before the disappearance of the place". Of course, the clock tower and drum tower two building categorically will not disappear, "time" magazine referred to, is that piece of historical street and Bell Tower and Drum Tower already in texture and the spirit of the com.

This is a piece of the Bell Tower and Drum Tower square as the center of the community, north to the clock tower on the north side of the bean curd pool lane, South to the Drum Tower Street things, things in a longitudinal parallel Zhonglouwan Hutong as main street. Here are several ten households courtyard, similar in size, condition of uneven, the distinctive features of historical information. On "time" magazine editor, Bell Tower and Drum Tower square is especially to meet an Oriental Imagination of popular Western intellectual circles: the consciousness of time classical color, spatial geographic symbol of imperial power, the traditional rich residential system. These three elements are embodied in Bell Tower and Drum Tower square area. While its "disappear", so that the area is full of a sense of destiny.

The bell tower and the Bell Tower and Drum Tower square.

The removal of Zhonglouwan Hutong West street.

"The times" worries finally confirmed, in December 12, 2012, Beijing Dongcheng District city government issued a "notice on" Bell Tower and Drum Tower square restoration project within the scope of the housing levy, posted on the surrounding Bell Tower and Drum Tower alley walls together with the compensation scheme, which means that the Bell Tower and Drum Tower square restoration project officially started. On the cultural workers, this is a make them less happy news. The fragile Beijing City, any such message, is enough to bring great pains.

Bell Tower and Drum Tower was built in the Yuan Dynasty, has a history of over 700 years. Bell Tower and Drum Tower was the timing center, old Beijing people still to indulge in elaborating on "morning bell and evening drum -- reminders". Alley, courtyard of Bell Tower and Drum Tower and the surrounding, as an important part of city landscape, also already win support among the people. The decision was taken, all the different reaction, many after 80 or 90 young people in Beijing have issued a "real Beijing has disappeared" plaint; while for the people living here, pure nostalgia obviously can not resist the "better life" brought about by the temptation. If you can get a with bright windows and clean tables apartment, who would be willing to squeeze in the conditions of hard compound in?

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