Preliminary Master Plan for Construction of Beijing City in the years of 1957 -1958
In 1955, on the original basis of the Key Points of Planning Draft for Reconstruction and Expansion of Beijing City, and carry out an all-round and deep research and compilation to the master plan of Beijing city construction. Through the work in two years, the Preliminary Master Plan for Construction of Beijing City has been drafted in spring, 1957 (refer to attached Fig. 5 & 6).

This preliminary plan is basically the same as the Planning Draft in 1953 in guiding thinking and city nature and city scale, but the content of planning on all aspects is much enriched and deepened, and many envisage in planning is more embodiment. In layout of the city, the style of “mother-baby town”is adopted, and over 40 satellite towns have been developed in a planned way. The function layout of the urban, industry, storehouse, institutes of higher learning, and scientific research has been regulated slightly on the basis of former planning draft; the integration of concentration and scattering for business industry and service trade has been adopted and distributing is made evenly.

Three ring roads, three ring highways and 18 roads of radiation were established in planning. Newly open water source for the city and divert water from Yongding River, Chaobai River, Lianhe River and Yellow River, and open a direct route for Beijing –Tianjin Canal to the sea. In addition, the special plan has been produced in highway traffic, railway, water supply, water drainage, heat supply, and gas supply and landscaping. In June 1958, on the one hand, this Preliminary Plan was printed and distributed to all units to study and implement in a form of draft; on the other hand, it has been submitted to the Central Government. In August 1958, the Party Central Committee made a decision to establish the People’s Commune in the rural areas. The Municipal Party Central Committee decided to make several big revisions for the Preliminary Plan which already submitted to the Party Central Committee. In September 1958, the revision plan was put forward and again submitted to the Party Central Committee (refer to attached Fig. 7 & 8 ). The Secretariat of Party Central Committee hears the report and affirms this Plan in principle.

This revised Plan has the following characteristics:


Firstly, lay stress on transition to the communism and creates necessary conditions to eliminate the three differences in guiding ideology.

Secondly, in layout of the city, the layout form of “Scatter- Conglomeration Type”has been put forward; the layout form of “Mother –baby Towns”consists of city urban and 40 more satellite towns around it. In 1958, based on the new condition which the city scope will be expanded to 16800km2, and made a revision for the above plan, and especially implement the thinking of “the Earth Gardening”, and avoid the city development like “ the spreading of a big cake”, and for the first time put forward the principle of layout planning scheme of “ Scatter –Conglomeration Type”; that is to divide the city proper into 20 more construction areas which relatively independent and separated by green space belts. Implement this far-sighted planning scheme, a big stretch of green space belts in city proper has been maintained. It has displayed an important function to maintain a sound environment, to prevent and control disasters and remain some free space for city development in future.

Thirdly, in industry development, the principle of “Control Urban Area and Develop the Far Suburb”has been put forward;

The place of Miyun, Yanqing, Pinggu, Shijingshan will be developed into the base of metallurgy industry; the large-scale machinery, electric motor manufacture industry shall be constructed in Huairou, Fangshan, Changxindian, Yamenkou and Nankou, etc.; the coal mine in Mentougou shall be fully excavated; the construction material industry base of larger scale shall be set up in Dahuichang, Zhoukoudian and Changping; the principal chemical industry will be arranged at the southeastern part of the city proper; the light industry with larger scale shall be located in Tongxian and Daxing. Some factories which is harmless to the inhabitants and lesser in scale and transportation shall be located in the residential district. The suburb shall set up their factory on site based on the condition of resources and establish the industry network in rural areas. The industry district in the city proper is fixed in pattern and be saturation already, and no new factory will be constructed in future, and some necessary adjustment shall be made. Some factories for the needs of the rural areas shall be removed to the suburb area rapidly.

Fourthly, on organizational structure, the envisagement of construction based on the principle of people’s commune has been put forward. In new residential area, not only the collective life shall be organized based on the principle of the People’s Commune and but also facilitate to the unity of whole family members. Every residential district shall have the completed service facilities needed for organization of collective life. The old-type of houses in the rural areas shall be renewed in a planned way, and construct the municipal infrastructure based on the existing condition and enable it to approach the level in the city.

Despite the influence of political situation at that period, some envisagement of the revised plan is beyond the possibility of practice, but from a viewpoint of present, the layout principle of “Scatter – Conglomeration Style”put forward in the scheme is benefit for the protection of eco-environment of the city proper; In addition, the principle in the revised plan of industry development relocated from urban area to the far-suburb area has controlled the scale of industry development, and it is also correct.