Beijing West station unveils journey into ancient capital

Liu Naitao, deputy director of the Beijing Archaeological Site Museum, guided visitors through the exhibition's highlights. Divided into three sections — "Building the Capital and Constructing the City", "Dreams of Zhongdu", and "New Life of the Ancient Capital" — the exhibition explores the Jin capital's urban layout, daily life and modern-day conservation efforts.

Its design is equally thoughtful. The displays follow a linear route, allowing travelers with luggage to experience the exhibition without retracing their steps.

Jinzhongdu was a thriving commercial hub where nomadic and Han Chinese cultures intertwined. Tea drinking was popular across all social classes, with teahouses and taverns lining the city streets. The Jin emperors were patrons of literature and the arts. Wanyan Liang wrote poetry in a bold style, while Emperor Zhangzong's verses were more refined.

Although most of Jinzhongdu's buildings have long disappeared, decades of archaeological work have gradually brought the ancient capital back into public view. One striking example lies just outside the station: during the planning of Beijing West Railway Station in the early 1990s, the site was moved 100 meters eastward to preserve the Lotus Pond. Today, the pond and the modern station stand facing each other across time. The place becomes a unique urban landscape where ancient and contemporary Beijing meet.

Li Yaning, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Administration of Key Station Areas, said at the opening: "Beijing West Station has been in operation for 30 years. This exhibition is a meaningful effort to bring cultural resources closer to the public and make cultural services accessible to the people."

The exhibition is part of a broader initiative to integrate public culture into Beijing's major transportation hubs. This is the third such exhibition the museum has staged at a railway station, following displays at Tongzhou and Beijing North stations. But the West Station exhibition is the largest and most comprehensive so far.

"Jinzhongdu marked the beginning of Beijing's long history as a capital," Liu said. "It witnessed the formation of the pluralistic yet integrated pattern of the Chinese nation."

The exhibition is free and open to the public.