Brief introduction of Ziguangge Railway
1886 (12th year of Guangxu), the vast expansion project of Xiyuan Sanhai began. In order to cooperate with this project, the Qing court not only purchased materials all over the country, but also introduced western modern technology into the Xiyuan construction project. 1888 (14th year of Guangxu reign) 165438+ 10. In October, the general manager of Ji Shen Battalion Enyou arrived in Beijing with western products such as electric lamps and boilers purchased from Danish Chilov Company.
But how to install these foreign things becomes a problem. Because China's architecture pays attention to Feng Shui, and once these foreign things appear in the palace, they will be neither fish nor fowl, which will hinder Feng Shui. In China, which was ruled by feudal ethics for thousands of years, foreign things were like monsters in the eyes of ministers who wore royal robes and could not leave home, which made them afraid. It is against the tradition of their ancestors to install these foreign things in the court. To this end, the West Park and the Three Seas should be equipped with electric lights, just like the extraordinary "anecdote" and the frightened "extra", which makes all ministers feel uncomfortable and restless at night. In particular, the minister of the interior strongly opposes it, but Cixi loves to watch western operas. She said, "Clocks and watches are played abroad, so we still use them. Is there anything wrong with it? " But after all, electric light is the first time to be used, which is different from clocks and watches and is very dangerous. Therefore, a special order was issued to investigate the death of Yuan Wailang, an official of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. 165438+1On October 26th, Henry Ying went to the West Garden to look around, measure the terrain and grasp the pulse.
After finding out the terrain and pulse of the West Garden, he went to the Luan Hall and told Cixi: "The layout of the West Garden belongs to Ren Zi, and Ren Zi is continuous. You can install electric lights and boilers outside the western wall of the Yiluan Hall, and choose to install them at noon on the 21 ST of the first month of next year. "
In fact, the installation of electric lights and boilers this time is purely a "imperial edict". The electric lights are specially for Cixi to enjoy. Cixi lived in the main hall of the funeral. Electric lights and boilers must be installed in convenient places nearby. However, at that time, the electric light was not installed in the Yiluan Hall, but outside the western wall of the Yiluan Hall. I'm afraid I still have some scruples about electric lights, because electric lights need electricity and power generation, and improper use will also bring danger. Therefore, the lighting in the temple is still covered with old-fashioned candles and oil.
The newly installed electric light makes the outside of the instrument hall as bright as day. On this day, Cixi deliberately went outside a Luan Hall and said happily, "The electric light is really bright!" He ordered many gifts for Henry. This is the first electric light in the Qing palace. Electric lamps bring light and boilers bring warmth. As soon as Cixi was happy, she lived in a Luan Hall for 10 years, and did not leave the Luan Hall until April of the seventeenth year of Guangxu, and stayed in the Summer Palace.
The Ilan Temple, where the first electric lamp was installed, was occupied by the commander-in-chief of the allied forces, Wa, after Eight-Nation Alliance entered Beijing in the year of Gengzi. At this time, the temple was destroyed by fire. The first electric lamp in Qing dynasty was destroyed by the fire in Gengzi year.
In the 14th year of Guangxu (1888), the first railway of Qing Dynasty was built from Beihai to Zhonghai, which was the fourth railway laid in China at that time.