Beijing´s Architecture

The black and white photograph depicts a city gate alongside a grand, imposing building. It was likely taken by Count Karl von Luxburg during one of his walks in Beijing and probably shows the Zhengyangmen city gate, regarded as the main entrance to the Inner City (Neicheng) of Beijing. Until the 20th century, the Inner City was encircled by a city wall. During the Boxer Rebellion, the Zhengyangmen Gate suffered partial destruction due to an assault by the troops of the Eight-Nation Alliance, a coalition of colonial powers competing for influence in China. The gate was subsequently rebuilt in 1914.

In his autobiography, Count Karl detailed the architecture of Beijing, which he observed during his walks along the elevated outer wall. He noted that the cityscape was predominantly marked by traditional Chinese architectural styles. Count Karl expressed a dislike for the few structures built in European styles, which he associated with the residences of Christian missionaries. The legations of the colonial powers were situated in a distinct quarter, with Count Karl's descriptions indicating that the German Legation was located just inside the high city wall. He described it as comprising several houses set within a large garden.