Photography Demolition of the Front Gate
A black-and-white photograph showing the state of affairs after three weeks of demolition of the Zhengyang Gate (Zhengyangmen 正陽門), better known as the Front Gate (Qianmen 前門), in 1915. The gate was the central passageway between the Outer City (Waicheng 外城) and Inner City (Neicheng 内城) of Beijing. The wall around the gate is completely destroyed. Only the wooden watchtower is still standing.
The photograph is the 441st of 449 photographs of Beijing and its surroundings in the album of Ivan Skušek Jr., purchased during his stay in Beijing (1914–1920). In the handwritten inventory of the album, the photograph is referred to as Demolieren des Tsien-Men: Der Turm fast freigelegt (nach 3 Wochen) . (DZ, MV)
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