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The Changpu River, in the east of Beijing's Forbidden City, has again seen daylight after being concealed underground for 40 years.
In the late 1960s, the river was covered by warehouses that were built to store materials used for national pageants.
Increased concern about Beijing's environment and the preservation of its historical features in recent years resulted in the municipal government launching a series of measures, which is highlighted by a desire to renew the city's river network.
Despite only being 510 metres long, the Changpu was one of the two most important rivers in the imperial city during the 14th and early 20th century. The other was the Golden Water River by the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City.
As the Changpu runs outside the imperial compound, it is also known as the Outer Golden Water River, which was used as a water supply, for sewage treatment, transportation and defence.
After a 500 million yuan (US$60 million) investment over six months, the Changpu has been revitalized and returned to its original appearance.
The buildings along the river, the traditional alleys and quadrangles, have also been well preserved, in addition to hundreds of ancient trees.
The newly announced Plan to Protect the Historical and Cultural City of Beijing is specifically designed to protect the city's water system.
According to the plan, special efforts will be made to harness and protect water relevant to the city's history and eco-environment. It includes the restoration of rivers and lakes of historic significance in Beijing.
Since 1998, the municipal government has invested 1 billion yuan (US$120 million) in water system projects.
So far, the Beihai and Shichahai lakes and the Tongzi River have been dredged and their banks and bounding walls repaired.
Work on the Qingshui, Bahe and Liangshui rivers is also underway.
By 2005, the government will invest another 5.45 billion yuan (US$659 million) to clean 20 more rivers.
Besides protecting the city's ancient water system, Beijing is also making considerable efforts to maintain and renovate a large number of historical and cultural sites, hundreds of ancient temples, buildings, city walls, imperial gardens and other relics.
"In the next five years, the focus of heritage preservation will shift from separate sites renovation to the protection and promotion of the entire ancient sections and their landscapes," said Mei Ninghua, director of the Beijing Administrative Bureau of Cultural Relics.
(China Daily Oct 8, 2002)
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