Language
Country/Area
No result found
The Lost Underground City of Beijing: What amazing stories did it once hide?
At every level facing the earth, whether above or below the ground, we always seem to be surrounded by endless history. The ancient city of Beijing not only has its sealed history, but also has secrets hidden underground. Beijing Underground City, this mysterious area, was built during the Cold War and has now become a palace of many stories.
This underground city once served as the life and protection function for millions of people during the Sino-Soviet conflict in the 1960s and 1970s. Today it has become one of the few entrances to understand this history.
In the 1960s, along with geopolitical changes, the construction of Beijing's underground cities reached a climax. The fear at that time prompted the Chinese government to develop this huge underground shelter in order to protect citizens and their resources. The entire underground city covers an area of approximately 85 square kilometers. In fact, it is an amazing urban ecosystem that includes shelters, storage rooms, shops and other uses:
"Beijing's underground city is not just a refuge, it is the continuation of the city's vitality in crisis."
However, as time passed and the political climate changed, the underground city was gradually forgotten and eventually ceased use in the early 1970s. It was first opened to the public in 2000, attracting countless visitors to explore the secrets of the project, but following renovations in 2008, all official entrances were closed in 2009. Does this mean that hidden world will once again be lost to history?
Many people are surprised by the structure of Beijing's underground city. It is said that there are complex passages connected to important places on the ground. The design concept of the underground city not only goes beyond defense functions, but also considers residential needs and commercial activities. Can we regain this inspiration of "underground life" in today's urban infrastructure planning?
“Perhaps we need to rethink how to strike a balance between the ground and the underground in our current urban design.”
Echoing the past of Beijing’s underground cities are underground cities around the world: whether it is the underground shopping streets of Seoul, South Korea, or the historical underground cities of Cappadocia, Turkey, they all carry human beings in specific historical contexts. survival wisdom. And today, will Beijing reuse these spaces in its future urban development plans?
Looking back at history, how did Beijing’s underground city become an example of “underground survival” at that time? Over the long years, how many unknown stories has it hidden, and how many moments of bravery and farewell have emerged? Should we today delve deeper into this silent memory to understand human reactions when faced with difficulties?
Now that Beijing’s underground cities are a thing of the past, every street corner and every turn may hide a story. How will future urban life blend with these histories?
As we repeatedly explore the possibilities and boundaries of these cities, have we ever expected that there are still some amazing stories waiting for us to discover in those forgotten corners?
