Chapter II Keep watching in the “Road North” area

Daobei area, or "Road North" area, refers to the northern suburban areas of Xi'an, which began to take its shape in the 1930s and has become the congregation areas of migrant people in the city.

In 1935, the Longhai Railway was open to traffic in Xi’an, which has a significant role in promoting the development of the city and also brought a large number of immigrants to the city.

At that time, the old royal garden Daming Palace site and the northern area of Xi'an railway station became a habitat of victims and refugees of the war and floods of the Yellow River. "Road North" and "Road North people”, have become special names of the north suburban parts of Xi’an.

Since then, as the war was upgraded, an increasing number of refugees rushed in and dominately occupied the region, as immigration accounted for more than 80% of the total population. They lived in the edge of the past Imperial City, however, they had to rely on the shelter of mountain caves, shanties and makeshift shelters. So in the Han and Tang dynasties’ imperial regions or the “Dragon Root" regions, a new area of Xi'an has formed.

In history, the Road North area was once a symbol of China's rich and beautiful areas.

In Western Han Dynasty, the Road North area is a strategic military place and a gateway to the capital. In Tang Dynasty, this area is the essence land of the country, dotted with pavilions, ponds and villas.

However, after a long period of years, this land has become an air-dried specimen of history and was thrown into oblivion.

Until the 1930s and 1940s, the Central Plains refugees settled down here along the Longhai Railway and brought life to this deserted land.

In the past 70 years, Road North people have witnessed the changes of the area and have kept looking after this land.

Daming Palace area is in a moment of opening a new chapter in history and the city will bear in mind the historical moment for ever.

Of course, people living in the Road North area will also share the gifts given by time, as the dust accumulated in more than 1,000 years will be removed by the preservation and protection project and local residents’ living condition will be upgraded and a better life is ahead.

"Deep Memory" (Author: Qin Ling 2008)

"Vast and hope" (Author: Wang Xijing, 2009)