Controversial chimney stokes industrial heritage debate

The Tianning Pagoda is Beijing's oldest surviving relligious building. WANG SONG/XINHUA

In March last year, the power plant and the Beijing government organized an architectural competition to redevelop the chimney. The competition received about 51 suggestions in two months.

The oldest entrant was age 86, while the youngest was a middle school student.

Wang, the project's director, was impressed by a suggestion to decorate the chimney with a huge LED screen that would broadcast real-time air quality data.

"It would be very eye-catching, environmentally friendly and affordable," Wang said.

Chen hopes to see a "less industrial" use for the chimney, and jokingly suggested that it should include a platform for sky diving or bungee jumping.

The protection of historic relics has been a key concern for the central government since 2012, and President Xi Jinping has ordered authorities at all levels to strengthen protection and promote appropriate and moderate use of relics.

The Beijing government has yet to issue a final decision, but the question of the chimney's possible demolition was included in a July graduation test for junior high school students in the city.

Ma Ying, a professor at Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, said the debate illustrates how "city planning is not just a top-down decision-making process, but also needs advice and supervision from the bottom up".

The Tour Montparnasse in Paris, which was completed in 1973, was also criticized for destroying the French capital's historic skyline, according to Ma.

"Why not keep the chimney and let the debate continue as a caution against repeating the same mistake?" Ma said.