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Redefining the Axis of Beijing

Revolution and Nostalgia in the Planning of the PRC Capital

Oakland University, Michigan

This article analyzes the urban planning controversies that led to the fast expansion of Chang'an Avenue and the irreversible alteration of Beijing's urban fabric, focusing on the issue of Beijing city's dominant axis in the Liang-Chen Scheme and Zhu-Zhao Scheme around the year 1950. My argument is that the failure of Liang's vision for Beijing was mainly due to the nostalgic nature of his proposal and its close affiliation with the imperial model, which did not meet the expectation of the revolutionary spirit of the time. Politics did play a central role in the urban transformation of Beijing in the People's Republic of China. However, instead of treating architects' debate as a footnote to Mao's casual comments, this article integrates the Chinese Communist Party's political agenda as part of the architectural discourse.

Key Words: Beijing • urban planning • Chinese architecture • Chang'an Avenue • axis

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