Peking University, Jan. 17, 2013: “Dongcheng is a bonanza of traditional Chinese culture…” Mr. Wang Zhihong waxed lyrical about the district of downtown Beijing.

At Guozijian Middle School — lying right on the corner of the legendary district, the expert on Beijing’s history dissected Dongcheng as a cradle of celebrities.

Wang, long engaged in the study of Dongcheng’s chorography, presented a dense web across the blocks of the 41.84 square kilometers, where the former residences of 228 eminent persons dot. Though summarized from four official groups of materials, the data were still far from complete statistics. “Too numerous to enumerate — the materials and our knowledge are both limited,” sighed Wang, “the more we ‘dig’, the greater the number will grow.”

Speaking of the glamour of Dongcheng, Wang attributed it to its unique status in Beijing. “Located in the core area of the capital, Dongcheng has long served as the political center, which gathers large number of social elites. It is also prosperous in commerce due to its city layout. The flourishing culture and tidy environment promoted by the city construction also contribute a lot to the enchantment,” Wang told the audience.

During the two-hour lecture, Mr. Wang Zhihong conducted a cyber tour around the historical Dongcheng by weaving a wealth of celebrity anecdotes into it.

The audience was as if strolling through the slate-paved hutongs when disappearing through a vermilion double door. Right in the quadrangle courtyard, the noted host — a formidable royal officer, an erudite philosophical scholar, or a fashionable opera actor — had brewed up a nice pot of tea for the guests. And they just extended a heart-to-heart talk…

Background Info:

Wang Zhihong is the 84th speaker of the “PKU Guozijian Lecture”.

The series, jointly hosted by the Beijing Development Institute of PKU and the Education Committee of Dongcheng District, aims to let more local residents know about traditional Chinese culture.

Approximately each two weeks in 2013, a proficient, mostly a PKU staff member, will be invited methodically to give lectures on Chinese culture, history, philosophy, religion or art. The detailed notice information of these lectures is available on www.bjdi.org or www.110101.cn.

Written by: Zhu Wenjia
Edited by: Arthars
Source: PKU News (Chinese)