老北京將消失在現代化的壓路機下
By Jaime FlorCruz and Chen Xiaoni, CNN
April 27, 2010 -- Updated 0020 GMT (0820 HKT)
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
• In the 1990s, Beijing's old city came under attack from the wrecking ball of modernization 在90年代,北京老城面臨現代化大鐵球的攻擊
• Beijing's traditional hutongs and courtyards have disappeared rapidly with development 北京的傳統胡同和庭院因發展而快速消失
• Planners have since decided to separate the new and old cities to protect Beijing's old town 城市規劃人員因此決定分開新舊城以保護北京老城
• Public opinion has increasingly been taken into consideration in Beijing's city development 對於北京城的發展,公眾的意見逐漸被採納
Beijing, China (CNN) -- Chairman Mao had a dream. A few years after he led the Communist Party to victory, Mao stood on the Tiananmen rostrum and, talking to his comrades, expressed his wish to one day see Beijing's skyline dotted by chimneys -- his idea of a modern socialist China. Now his dream has come true. Beijing's sky is lined, not just by chimneys, but by skyscrapers too.
CNN中國北京 --毛主席曾有個夢想。在他領導共產黨獲得勝利幾年後,毛站在天安門台上,對他的同志們,表示希望有一天看到北京的天際星羅密佈煙囪形成的星點—他理想中的現代社會主義下的中國。而現在,他的夢想成真了。北京如今不只煙囪,摩天大廈也是鱗次櫛比。
Not long ago, many Chinese thought the only way to modernize China was to "destroy the old and build the new." In the 1990s, when Deng Xiaoping's reform program was in full swing, Beijing's old city came under attack from the big wrecking ball of modernization.
還不久前,許多中國人認為中國現代化的唯一方式是拆毀舊的並蓋起新的建築。90年代,當鄧小平的改革開放計劃如火如涂進行中,北京老城面臨現代化大鐵球的攻擊。
That was around the time when Wang Jun, author of two best-selling books on urban history and planning in China, moved from his hometown of Guizhou to Beijing to start his career as a Xinhua News Agency reporter. His beat was city planning and development. In 1993, he remembers, Beijing's city planning office decreed that all new buildings near the Forbidden City would be subject to height restrictions in the interests of the historical city. For Wang, this regulation highlighted the importance of protecting old Beijing and made him want to do his part.
這些事大約發生在王軍 (出版兩本關於中國城市歷史和規劃的暢銷書),從廣州家鄉遷移至北京開啟他夏華新聞記者事業開始。他負責城市規劃和發展。在1993年,他記得北京城規劃辦公室頒令所有靠近紫禁城的新建築將有建高限制以維護古城利益。對他而言,此法規顯露了保護老北京的重要性並驅駛他去盡自己的一分心力。
Since then, Wang has become an outspoken advocate of saving old cities and their cultural and architectural legacies. To Beijing residents, whose houses are threatened with demolition or who have been forced to relocate to make way for real estate developers, Wang Jun is a kind of folk hero. To scholars of traditional architecture, he is a fearless fighter. But to officials who wish to boost GDP figures through property development, he is a troublemaker.
從那時起,王即成為了保護老城和其文化和建築傳奇的大力鼓吹者。對於北京那些被威脅要拆房或被迫遷移以利地產開發者的居民而言,王軍就像是他們的群眾英雄。對於傳統建築的學者而言,他是個無懼的鬥士,但對於希望經由地產開發增加國家生產總值的官員來說,他是個麻煩製造者。
Wang Jun spent ten years collecting materials for "Beijing Records," his first book published in 2003. "Writing a book is like building a house," he says. "You cannot cheat and cut corners in labor and materials." His second best-seller, "Cities in the Reporter's Notebook" was published in 2008.
王軍花了十年的時間以收集 “城記”—他出版於2003年的第一本著作的文獻資料。 “寫書就像蓋房”,他說道。 “你不能偷工減料”,他的第二本暢銷書—“Cities in the Reporter's Notebook” 出版於2008年。
Over a cup of tea in his apartment in suburban Beijing, Wang Jun talked with CNN's Jaime FlorCruz and Chen Xiaoni about how Beijing has changed over the years.
在他位於北京市的公寓裡,喫茶之餘王軍告訴CNN記者北京這些年來的變化。
Some people say they felt nostalgic about the Beijing of the 1950's and 60's after reading "Beijing's Records." But after reading "Cities in the Reporter's Notebook" they felt sorrow for today's Beijing. Is that the message you wished to convey?
不少人說在讀了 “城記” 後懷念起5、60年代的北京, 但是在了 "Cities in the Reporter's Notebook" 他們為今日的北京感到哀愁。這正是你想要傳達的訊息嗎?
As a journalist, I have no intention to provoke negative feelings. "Beijing's Records" was about Beijing's history in the 50's and 60's. I wanted to answer one question: How was the old town of Beijing, a city with more than 3,000 years of history, destroyed in a few years during the second half of the 20th century? "Cities in the Reporter's Notebook" is about the current situation in Chinese cities, including Beijing. In it, I tried to answer what is pushing the biggest urbanization in human history? How did it happen? Many problems mentioned in these two books are not unique to China. Beijing was a densely populated city that was suitable for walking. And yet more roads, gated communities and giant shopping centers are being built. People have to drive around to get things done. I'm just trying to show the readers how their lives have been changed, like it or not.
身為一名記者,我無意誤導負面的情緒。 “城記”是一部關於北京5、60年代的歷史。我想要回答這個問題:北京這個老城有多老,一個超過三千年歷史的城市,怎麼毀於二十世紀的後半的幾年? “Cities in the Reporter's Notebook”是關於中國城市的現在情況,包含北京。在書裡,我試著去回答:在人類的歷史中,是什麼驅動了大規模的城市化?是如何發生?在兩本書中提及的問題不僅發生在中國。北京是個適合歩行而人口稠密的城市。然而愈多的道路、獨立的社區和巨大的購物中心正在建造。人們被迫開車才能到達。我只是正試著向讀者展示他們的生活如何被改變,像是這樣或不是。
So are you happy or sad about the state of contemporary Beijing?
因此,你對於北京的當代狀態是快樂還是悲傷的?
All cities are facing and dealing with their own set of problems. Beijing is no different. Since the 1950s, Beijing's government has built a new town over the old one, using the same city center, surrounded by ring roads and expanding it concentrically. Most of the jobs are in the city center so the suburbs have virtually become "dormitory towns" for hundreds of thousands of people. Commuting between job and home causes tremendous traffic congestion. When the new China was founded [in 1949], some Chinese scholars foresaw these serious problems due to development. They suggested separating the old city and the new city in order to balance employment and residential needs. Regretfully, Chinese decision-makers didn't heed their advice.
所有的城市正在面臨和處理他們各自的問題,北京也不例外。自50年代後,北京當局以同樣的市中心,把新城蓋在舊城之上,環以道路並以中心向外延伸。工作和居家的通勤導致極嚴重的交通擁擠。當新中國於1949年奠基後,某些中國學者已預見發展帶來的嚴重問題。他們建議區分新舊城以平衡工作和住宅區的需求。令人遺憾地!中國當權者沒聽從他們的忠告。
When Beijing began preparations for the 2008 Olympics, various sectors -- the community, the central and city government officials -- finally realized that many of Beijing's problems are caused by its single-centered city structure. They decided to make an urban planning adjustment by separating the new and old cities to protect Beijing's old town, focusing on developing three new towns in the east -- Tongzhou, Yizhuang and Shunyi. The State Council approved it and it's included in Beijing's 2020 master plan. If the goal is realized, many problems like traffic and conflict between development and protection can be solved.
當北京開始為2008奧運作準備時,不同的部門—委員會、中央和地方政府官員們終於意識到許多北京的問題是因為單一的城市中心造成的。他們決定調整城市規劃,分開新舊城以保護北京老城,在東邊專注發展三個新市鎮。國務院批准這個包含在北京2020年主軸的計劃。假如這個目標實現,許多像是因發展和保護而導致的交通和衝突可以解決。
Do you have any suggestions for Beijing's urban planners?
對於北京城規劃者,你有任何建議嗎?
The problem is how to achieve the new city master plan, which now emphasizes public involvement. This is a good approach. In recent years, public opinion has increasingly been taken into consideration in Beijing's city development, although there are still problems.
問題是如何去達到現在強調的公眾參與的新城主要計劃。這是一個好方法。最近幾年,公眾的意見逐漸地被考慮進北京城發展之中,儘管這仍是問題。
In your first book, you seem to say Beijing's hutongs (traditional neighborhoods) are dead and gone. But since the population in Beijing has increased so dramatically in recent years, how do you expect people to be housed if the hutongs are not torn down to make way for high-rises?
在你的第一本書中,似乎你認為北京的胡同已消逝。但近年來北京的人口急劇成長,假如胡同沒有拆除以改建成高樓,你如何期望人們有地方居住?
I didn't say Beijing's hutong has died. It's still panting. I do want to write a book called "The Death of the Hutong" and answer these questions: Why have Beijing's traditional hutongs and courtyards disappeared so rapidly during the peacetime and economic development period? Why are the left-over courtyards so dilapidated? Why is nobody taking care of them? And how has the urban fabric changed?
我並不認為北京胡同已死。它還存在。我可不希望寫一本叫做 “胡同之死”的書並回答這些問題,為何北京傳統的胡同和庭院快速地消逝在承平和經濟發展的時期?為何殘存的庭院如此破爛不堪?為何沒有任何人維護它們?並且這城市的結構是如何改變?
The population increase is not the reason for the decline of the hutongs. In Beijing, the old city occupies less than 6 percent of the total area. The increasing population could live outside the old town, so it's not necessary to tear down courtyards and build high-rises there. The courtyards are worth preserving. They are important examples of the oriental housing culture. Even though they are low-rise structures, they can comfortably house large numbers of people because of their dense design and efficient lay-out. In Beijing in 1949, for example, more than 20,000 people lived in one square kilometer of space. It worked fine.
人口的增加不應是胡同減少的理由。在北京,舊城只佔在不到總面積的6%。增加的人口可以住在舊城的外圍,如此一來便不需要拆除庭院和改建高樓。這些庭院是值得保存,他們是東方住宅建築文化的重要範例。即便它們是低樓層建築,因為其密集式設計和有效率的佈局,它們可以舒適地容納大量的人口。舉例來說,在49年北京城,超過兩萬人居住在一平方公尺的空間裡,而且運作良好。
How do you find Beijing's new landmark architecture, such as the new CCTV tower, the National Opera Theater and the "Bird's Nest"? What do they say of contemporary Beijing?
你如何評判北京的新地標建築,像是新的中央電視台塔、國家劇院和鳥巢?他們是如何說當代的北京?
Those so-called new landmarks are all important Chinese projects and they are all designed by Westerners. This demonstrates China's openness. In Chinese history, only Russian architects enjoyed such an opportunity in the 1950s. These new landmarks have provoked widespread discussion in Chinese society to a degree never seen before. This also shows that Chinese society has become more diversified and open. As a developing city, of course Beijing needs modern architecture. It's difficult for me to say whether or not Beijing needs buildings with interesting shapes like the New CCTV tower, National Opera Theater and the Bird's Nest. They are already completed and have become part of Beijing. Many people don't like them.
這些所謂的新地標全都是中國重要的專案,並且全是由西方設計。這表示了中國的開放。在中國歷史裡,只有在50年代俄式建築享有這樣的機會。這些新地標們在中國引起了前所未有的、某種程度的廣泛地討論。這同樣表示了中國社會已多樣化且開放。以一個發展中的城市而言,北京當然需要現代建築。對我來說北京是否需要這些有著有趣外型的建築是很困難的,它們已經完工並成為北京的一部份,許多人並不喜歡它們。
How do old cities like Beijing balance and blend the styles of the old buildings with new architecture?
像北京這樣的古城如何去平衡並將新建築融入舊有的建築風格中?
It's important that we protect the old city while developing a new town. Let's stop destroying the old town and concentrate on developing new cities. Beijing's new master plan, approved by the State Council in 2005, says so.
在發展新市鎮時對於保護舊有的城市是很重要的。讓我們停止對於舊城的破壞並專注於新城市的開發。當由國務院批准北京的新主要規劃時做了以上的宣示。
Last year, some people tried to self-immolate to protest against forced relocation from their homes. Land grabbing is causing social disharmony. What is the key to solving this problem?
去年,某些人試著以死守護家園扺制搬遷。土地的掠奪導致社會不和諧。解決這問題的關鍵是什麼?
The key is to change local governments' financial and taxation systems. In 1998, China started housing reform. Public housing was privatized. Real estate exchange markets were established, but still today, there's no property tax. City governments invest in public services that drive up land prices, but the city governments cannot benefit from such investment. China's constitution, promulgated in 1982, says the government owns land. An amendment in 1988 says the rights to use land may be transferred. From then on, a big chunk of the city governments' revenue came from selling land after relocating people. It's the only way to return the cost of investing in public services, but it causes serious social problems. How do you impose property tax when land belongs to the State? That's an urban planning issue with Chinese characteristics.
關鍵是要改善地方政府的財政和稅賦系統。在1998年,中國開啟了住宅改革、公有住宅私有化、地產交易奠基,但至今仍無房地產稅。市政府投資於公共建設驅使土地價格上漲,但是市政府卻無法從投資中受益。頒行於1982年的中國憲法,說明了土地國有。1988年的修正案說明有權使用土地和轉移。從那時起,市政府的最大稅收來自於遷移人民後的土地出售。這是唯一的方法以回收公共投資的成本,但是導致嚴重的社會問題。如何去徵收已屬於國家的土地的稅?這是中國特有的城市規劃問題。
You say: "China's city planning should go side by side with China's democratic process." Can you explain?
你表示: “中國的城市規劃應與中國的民主進程同亦步亦趨” 你能解釋一下嗎?
The Chinese society has gone through profound changes. Some 80 percent of Chinese housing is privatized. Housing has become the Chinese people's most important property. Since the privatization of housing in 1998, a common theme has been home owners protecting their rights. This has prompted the government to pass in 2007 a landmark "Property Law" protecting legal rights of property owners. City planning must consider public opinion and allow the community to self-manage in order to push China's democratic development forward.
中國社會已有了深刻的改變。百分之八十的住宅是私有化了。住宅已成為中國人民最重要的資產。自從1998年住宅私有化後,自宅擁有者捍衛他們自身的權益已成為普遍的情況。此一現象促使政府於2007年通過了具有歷史里程碑意義的 “資產法”以合法地保護資產擁有者的權益。城市規劃必須考慮公眾的意見,並允許社區自我管理以推動中國的民主向前發展。