Where should China's capital be located? Options

[Yuje]

As we all know, China has had many capitals during its history, there is no single city that's exclusively been capital for China. Mao probably wanted Beijing as capital because he wanted to rule in the same place that the Qing Emperors did, but Beijing isn't necessarily the best or only place that a capital can be located. South Korea is moving their country's capital away from Seoul, it's not unreasonable to contemplate that China would do the same. What city do you think would make a good capital for China? (Please, no stupid $hit like Saigon, Tokyo, or Seoul, I don't want to start a fu-king racist flamewar between idiots and Chinese nazis and then have this thread locked)

Beijing-Current capital of China. Is a historic capital for many more recent dynasties, contains many cultural icons like Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and is near the Great Wall. Lends grandeur to the capital and reminds the leaders of their cultural roots. On the other hand, I can think of a whole list of superlatives when describing Beijing. Worst weather, horrible food, most polluted, most arrogant people, etc. Also, Beijing is rather far away from most of the rest of the country, and having a bunch of old dinosaurs living close to grand palaces certainly does nothing to keep the leaders closer in touch to the needs of the Chinese people. I don't know, maybe repressed road rage is what makes all those politicians in Beijing so militaristically-inclined and repressive of dissent?

Nanjing-China's southern capital. Capital under Ming, and the Republic of China. It's still officially the country's capital, Taipei being the "provisional" capital until reunificaiton. (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/embarassedlaugh.gif) Moved to Beijing during Ming Dynasty because it was vulnerable to artillery fire. Prestige has faded somewhat in the 20th century, but still, a new administration could move the capital to Nanjing to cut off ties to its communist past.

Shanghai-Easily one of the best choices for a western-looking China. Shanghai is the biggest city in China, and one of the richest and most westernized. Far more vibrant of a city than Beijing, and a great symbol of modernism. Shanghai is loved by Taiwanese, Japanese, and western investors, and would be ideal for an urban- and economy-focused China.

Xi'an-The capital under Qin, Han, and Tang dynasties. Has a good centralized location in the middle of the country. Probably a good capital for an inward-looking administration that wants to improve the Chinese heartland after the coast is developed, and also for a Central-Asia focused foreign policy.

Hong Kong-One of the most international cities in China. Unlike the rest of China, has good standing internationally, mainly because it didn't spend the last 50 years doing stupid $hit like running around waving red books and running over protesters. Has own connections with much of the world, and unlike the rest of China, is relatively corruption-free, and the laws actually work. Closer location to many of China's areas of interest, like Southeast Asia and the ASEAN countries, South China Sea, and Australia. We'll have a "China with Cantonese characteristics". On the other hand, bad for a military-oriented administraiton. Hong Kong is right next to the sea, and vulnerable to aircraft, offshort bombardment, and amphibious invasion if Opium Wars III ever happens. Problems may also pop up with much of the population not being able to speak Mandarin, but of course, much of HK can speak English which is a more international language anyway.

Taipei-Where I live, many of the old dinosaurs heading the Chinatown associations still refuse to recognize the People's Republic of China and still have dreams of the Nationalists someday reconquering Red China. (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/icon_rolleyes.gif) If reunification ever does happen and China returns to the Nationalists, would they want to rule from Taipei Advantages: modern, developed city, history of being capital. Disadvantages: Wacky politicians, located on island, is far away from most other provinces.

Hangzhou-Historical capital under Southern Song. Has the same advantages as Nanjing. Is a relatively small city, with less skyscrapers and development, but nice scenery, and a lot greener and cleaner than many other cities. Good for a nice, Washington DC-style capital.

Other possibilities: Luoyang, Chongqing, others?

[福州市长]

Beijing...perfect place.. not too close to the sea.. not too far from the sea...

This post has been edited by 福州市长: Oct 12 2004, 03:08 PM

[Chu Chu Train]

yah bejing....

[Mantis]

ROFLMAO at Taipei (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/rotflmao.gif) (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/rotflmao.gif) (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/rotflmao.gif) Taiwan nationalists' wet dream (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

What's wrong with Beijing? (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/confused.gif)

[Nam Quoc Son Ha]

Beijing for its former imperial glory. Although Xi'an isn't a bad choice coz it's been the capital of imperial China for hundreds of years.

[福州市长]

who voted for shanghai??

shanghai is not a good place for capital... it can be easliy be destroy by navy...

[Thanol]

who voted for shanghai??

shanghai is not a good place for capital... it can be easliy be destroy by navy...

Beijing, or anyother city, can be easily destroy by nuclear missile. (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/Talktohand.gif) It doesn't matter where it is.

[福州市长]

who voted for shanghai??

shanghai is not a good place for capital... it can be easliy be destroy by navy...

Beijing, or anyother city, can be easily destroy by nuclear missile. (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/Talktohand.gif) It doesn't matter where it is.

people dont' use nuclear that easily.

[Keymaker]

The creation of a new city to be its capital. We'll call it...Zhong Guo Cheng!

[caolucai]

beijing is perfect (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

the reason the KMT moved it to nanjing was so that no one would fantasize about becoming an emperor (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/embarassedlaugh.gif) 2

[fujisan_8]

Beijing for its former imperial glory. Although Xi'an isn't a bad choice coz it's been the capital of imperial China for hundreds of years.

Right next to a desert?

[ZurichGrrl]

my shanghai friend used to say she think it'd be cool if china reunites with taiwan and makes taiwan the whole island into the biggest capital in the world (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/embarassedlaugh.gif)

[ham_let]

^that'd be quite interesting (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/embarassedlaugh.gif) maybe in 500 years cities will be that large... and if you wanted it now... if everyone in china was told to move to taiwan, you could make one huge city...

[fujisan_8]

^that'd be quite interesting (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/embarassedlaugh.gif) maybe in 500 years cities will be that large... and if you wanted it now... if everyone in china was told to move to taiwan, you could make one huge city...

and damage more of the Earth's environment? bwhahahahaha

China has already probably damaged enough of the Earth.

[ham_let]

^that'd be quite interesting (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/embarassedlaugh.gif) maybe in 500 years cities will be that large... and if you wanted it now... if everyone in china was told to move to taiwan, you could make one huge city...

and damage more of the Earth's environment? bwhahahahaha

China has already probably damaged enough of the Earth.

hmm... maybe china could do that to trick taiwan and to create so much toxic waste to make tainwan radioactive and make it eventually corrode...

[caolucai]

^that'd be quite interesting (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/embarassedlaugh.gif) maybe in 500 years cities will be that large... and if you wanted it now... if everyone in china was told to move to taiwan, you could make one huge city...

and damage more of the Earth's environment? bwhahahahaha

China has already probably damaged enough of the Earth.

hmm... maybe china could do that to trick taiwan and to create so much toxic waste to make tainwan radioactive and make it eventually corrode...

to trick them into doing what?

[福州市长]

people are talking of nonsense

[Yuje]

who voted for shanghai??

shanghai is not a good place for capital... it can be easliy be destroy by navy...

I voted for Shanghai. Shanghai is the biggest and one of the richest cities in China. Shanghai also is the economic center of Mainland China, and one of the biggest ports in the world. These things all make it a good location for a capital. If an enemy navy gets anywhere near Shanghai, that's a failure of the Chinese navy, not of the capital.

[ComradeJing]

I think the communists bandied about the idea of a capital relocation a long time ago. It was once considered that a new city would be constructed at the geographical center of China though the idea never took off. For the time being though, it looks like Beijing will remain the capital for now and the forseeable future. I don't see a pressing need for capital relocation, but if the capital were to be relocated, I would recommend somewhere in central China to foster the developement of the interior. Not to mention that its good Feng Shui (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Made in China]

Nanjing is the second perfect place for China's capital. (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/biggthumpup.gif)

Beijing has its strategic values as well.