Beijing West station unveils journey into ancient capital

But relocation required more than an imperial decree. As Guo Jingning, director of the Capital Museum, explained at the opening ceremony, the emperor had to overcome resistance from his own people, most of whom were deeply attached to the northeast. According to a popular legend, Wanyan Liang devised a clever way to build support. He ordered lotus to be planted in the cold northeast — knowing they would not survive — and then asked his ministers why. They played along, telling him it was simply too cold there, and that lotuses would only flourish in the south, in Yanjing. The emperor took the cue and moved the capital to Beijing.

That is how the Lotus Pond — Lianhuachi — got its name. The emperor loved lotuses and had them planted widely. Fed by the Lotus River, which flowed around the city and through what is now the Jinzhongdu Water Gate ruins, the pond became a vital water source for the capital.

Jinzhongdu was built around a prominent central axis with a symmetrical layout. It featured outer, imperial and palace city walls, 13 gates in the outer city, and an orderly grid of streets and alleys, making it the most prosperous city in northern China at the time.