On The Order Of Capital Cities In Yuan Dynasty

During the whole Yuan Dynasty, through the wide range of its territory, there are totally 4 Capital-sites founded: Karakorum, Xanadu, Zhongdu and Khanbalik. Based on the archeological report of Xanadu & Zhongdu that published lately, referring to the related data and literature, the initial restitution is firstly made. Consequently by analogizing and colligating the interior structure of these 4 cities, some specialties are found as follows: City planning is of long standing in China. Since Zhou Dynasty, the order of Chinese city planning has been established. This shape and structure of Capital cities in Yuan Dynasty come down in one continuous line.In Yuan Dynasty, numbers play an important part in the design of city planning similarly in other dynasties through the history of China. Different numbers mean differently, for example, the assembling of Number 9 and 5 is the symbol of sovereign imperial power. In Yuan Dynasty, the change in position of bazaars and lanes keeps up, and it has laied the foundation of the interior structure in after Beijing, a classical and revolutionary example over the history of city planning.Simultaneously, the section of Capital city and its environs which was called "Fu Li" was parted as the biggest district both in polity and economy. The region of "Fu Li" covers Xanadu, Zhongdu and Khanbalik. Thus the gentry living in the poor Mongolia grassland could easily get enough supply from the wild developed areas.From Genghis Khan to his grandson, Kublai Khan, the Mongol governors change their ideas a lot. Essence in traditional culture of the central plains got on well with the peculiar customs of the Mongolia, so a new fixture formed. From Karakorum to Khanbalik, planning of Capital cities has gradually emerged from unrestrained freedom into orderly way, from not stick to one pattern to abiding by regulations and reached a landmark over about 100 years. When we talk about the city planning of Beijing that is like a shining star beaming down in the sky of untarnished blue, we cannot help but admire the achievement and the profound consequences made in Yuan Dynasty.