A New Exploration of the Value of Industrial Heritage from an Architectural Archaeology Perspective. A Case of Beijing’s Changxindian Preparatory School for the France Work-Study Program

Artículo

Autor: Zhao, X.; Cano Sanchiz, J. M.

Revista: Study on Natural and Cultural Heritage

Número: 10.5

Año: 2025

Páginas: 37-48

 

Fig. 4: West facade of the building

ABSTRACT: Decrypting the historical information carried by heritage is key to heritage studies and forms the foundation for value assessment and protection. Only by accurately grasping this information, can research and preservation of heritage advance in a deeperand broader direction. The Site of Changxindian Preparatory School for the France Work-Study Program is located in Fengtai District, Beijing. Its construction is closely linked to the building and operation of the Peking-Hankow Railway in the early 20th century. Due to a lack of historical records, the basic information about the building— such as its basic attributes and period— remains unclear. This article focuses on the historical background and, by adopting an archaeological perspective, records and analyses the building in order to reconstruct the symbiotic relationship between architecture and history, while reorganizing its archival documentation. On the basis of in-depth study of the heritage information, the study provides an in-depth analysis of the building’ s unique value. By integrating architectural details, it also preliminarily explores how the temporal characteristics of railway workers in the Changxindian area are reflected in the building, thereby providing support for related academic research and decision-making. 

KEYWORDS: architectural archaeology, Peking-Hankow Railway, railway heritage, railway workers, heritage value.

FULL TEXT (in Chinese)