Re-Drawing Beijing: Chongwen and Xuanwu Districts to Disappear

Morgan Welch | Jul 2, 2010 1:00 pm | 10 comments | 3872 reads

According to the Global Times, after July 1 southern Beijing’s Chongwen and Xuanwu districts will be absorbed into Dongcheng and Xicheng, respectively. The article, with a mildly Chinglish translation, paraphrases Professor Wang Yukai, from the Chinese Academy of Governance: “Combining districts is good for re-planning overall space and streamlining government organs.” The article doesn’t specify which particular organs will be streamlined in the mergers.

The Global Times states that Chongwen and Xuanwu’s lack of economic power stems from their limited geographical size; it’s hoped their assimilation into Dongcheng and Xicheng will balance the economic development of the city’s different districts. The municipal government also hopes that the merger will cut costs, by “Trimming the number of government institutions.”

Of course, the change has its opponents – a Peking University urban planning expert “said that the historic and cultural heritage will be ruined during the merger.”

However, for expats outside the former southern districts, the merger likely has few ramifications, besides mild confusion while reading maps.

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monkeytree's picture monkeytree Submitted by Guest on Tue, 07/06/2010 - 16:56

Actually I'd like to point out that I have been a long-time reader of the Beijnger blog - since before it was the Beijinger, in fact. I think it's great that you are reporting more on conservation issues, but I do think that of late articles recapping local news have taken on an unnecessary sneering and superior tone.

danedwards's picture danedwards Submitted by Guest on Mon, 07/05/2010 - 16:40

Hi Monkeytree,

Come on, this was a short post about an announcement in the local press - it never purported to be an exhaustive examination of all the issues surrounding the merger. As it happens, we have been making further enquiries about what this might mean for people who own apartments in these areas.

We noted concern among some locals (see the quote from the Peking University urban planning expert), and nowhere did we "scoff" at these concerns "from the sidelines."

The line about it not having a huge impact on expats was just that - it was in no way a "scoff" or dismissal of local concerns.

And, as I've already noted, if you regularly read the blog you'll find we write about a lot more than "Suzie Wongs and hot dogs."

Cheers,

Dan Edwards

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monkeytree's picture monkeytree Submitted by Guest on Mon, 07/05/2010 - 15:15

My point is that names have meaning, history, and connotations. To change the name of a place is essentially to change the way someone imagines that place. When I hear Chaoyang, for example, it creates a very different expectation from Chongwen or Haidian.

I'm not, of course, as well versed on the nuances of Chongwen and Xuanwu as an old Beijinger might be, but I know that the city south of Qianmen has always thought of themselves as being separate from the Manchu Inner City. I have friends who live in Xuanwu, and they were quite upset about the redistricting. They see Xuanwu as defined by its history of being a haven for intellectuals, artists, and scholars during the Qing dynasty, full of teahouses, stages, operas, etc. To them, Xuanwu is equated with culture, performance art, and history. They see themselves as Xuanwu residents, not Xicheng residents. (In fact, Xuanwu and Chongwen have more in common with each other than with their respective neighbors to the north. "Nancheng" is just different.)

I'm glad to hear that theBeijinger is not indifferent to the destruction of history and culture, but I must say that that wasn't the attitude I discerned from this blog post. I found it flippant in its dismissal of something of importance to many people who live in Xuanwu and Chongwen.

Re-districting may not affect the daily lives of expats, but as a news source that many expats rely on, the Beijinger blog should endeavor to explore issues in greater depth than most expats would on their own. Challenge us, please, to think more deeply about things we wouldn't think about otherwise. Just because we're expats doesn't mean that all we want to know about is Suzie Wongs and hot dogs. Move us out of our comfort zone, tell us about the city we call home, help us understand Beijing in new and different ways, inspire us to care. Help us become Beijingers, not outsiders scoffing on the sidelines.

danedwards's picture danedwards Submitted by Guest on Mon, 07/05/2010 - 10:37

Hi monkeytree,

As any regular reader of the Beijinger blog will tell you, we are anything but "indifferent to the destruction of history and/or culture" in Beijing. We regularly cover conservation issues and report on dubious developments around the capital - our thread on Gulou is a good example of the work we do.

As admin notes, however, there is a difference between neighborhoods and the boundaries of administrative districts, and on the face of it the change reported above is unlikely to impact on the lives of expats living in Beijing, or their experience of the city. Nor is there any reason to think it will result in the destruction of history and culture in the districts in question - or at least any greater destruction than what is already happening around town on the daily basis.

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admin's picture admin Submitted by Guest on Mon, 07/05/2010 - 09:34

monkeytree wrote:
some expats actually appreciate Beijing as a historic city and an assortment of neighborhoods, each with an identity of their own.

Would you feel so complacent if they merged Brooklyn with Queens, for example? Perhaps you should pay a visit to Chongwen or Xuanwu before dismissing the matter as simply a difficulty in map reading.

I agree with you in spirit but in all honesty I see no particular distinct "identity" of Beijing's district designations. NEIGHBORHOODS have some identity -- districts don't. And neighborhoods will continue to have their identity.

Get off the high horse buddy, or tell me for example how the various disparate areas of even Chongwen (for instance tiantan park, the train station, Qianmen) share some common identity that somehow separates them from other districts.

anyhow, as this post from Danwei points out, the districts only came into existence in 1950 anyhow

http://www.danwei.org/beijing/beijing_to_merge_downtown_dist.php

Quote:
Chongwen District: History
In May, 1950, urban Beijing was divided into nine districts (#1-9). The former 8th and 9th Districts were combined to form the 6th District, the 10th District became the 7th District, and the 12th District became the 9th District. On September 1, 1952, the 6th District became Qianmen District, the 7th District became Chongwen District, and the 9th District was eliminated, with its eastern portion, eastward from Tianqiao South Avenue and southward from Zhushikou East Avenue incorporated within Chongwen District. In September 1955, a portion of the former Dongjiao District outside Guangqumen and east of the Dongbianmen Bridge, and the Yongwai area of Fengtai District were added to Chongwen District. During the district merger of June 1, 1958, Qianmen District was eliminated and the eastern and western portions of the district, divided along Qianmen Street, were added to Chongwen and Xuanwu Districts, respectively.

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monkeytree's picture monkeytree Submitted by Guest on Sat, 07/03/2010 - 19:28

I’m so glad that we’re all expected to be indifferent to any destruction of history and/or culture. Thanks for tarring and feathering us with the same brush, but some expats actually appreciate Beijing as a historic city and an assortment of neighborhoods, each with an identity of their own.

Would you feel so complacent if they merged Brooklyn with Queens, for example? Perhaps you should pay a visit to Chongwen or Xuanwu before dismissing the matter as simply a difficulty in map reading.

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