Following two consecutive days of heavy rain, Beijing experienced its first major downpour of the rainy season, creating a cooling contrast to the summer heat typical of the capital city. Despite the deluge, the operations at the Palace Museum remained unimpeded, thanks to the ancient yet highly efficient drainage system of this historically significant architectural complex.
As reported by the Beijing Meteorological Service on Saturday, substantial rainfall measured at 50.4mm per hour engulfed vast portions of Beijing, including the Palace Museum. The resultant phenomenon, dubbed “1,000 dragon heads spouting water”, created an unforgettable spectacle for thousands of visitors.
Videos documenting this remarkable sight quickly spread across Chinese social media platform, Sina Weibo. They showcased the dragon heads ejecting water and the surprisingly dry flat floors within the Palace Museum, sparking fascination amongst users.
The unique drainage system of the Palace Museum is a subject of intrigue for many visitors and history enthusiasts. “There are 1,142 dragon-head drain spouts. We are fortunate to witness this phenomenon despite the heavy rain,” Guan Ping, a Beijing-based historian who was visiting the Museum with his niece on Saturday.
This integral part of the Palace Museum’s cultural heritage is protected just like other ancient architectural features. Guan noted that while the drainage system was included in the 18-year renovation plan (2002-2020), the changes made by restorers were minimal, ensuring the preservation of the original system.
The management of the Palace Museum divides the drainage system into several zones, undertaking a thorough cleaning every four to five years, as explained by former curator Shan Jixiang to the Xinhua News Agency.
“The construction of the drainage system perfectly illustrates the blend of practicality and aesthetics that characterizes ancient China,” added Guan. Experts highlight the extraordinary foresight of ancient craftsmen in designing a system that has successfully prevented water accumulation in the Palace Museum for about 600 years.
The Palace Museum’s roofing design, characterized by high ridges and steep slopes, facilitates rapid rainwater drainage. Moreover, the buildings are elevated on platforms, the highest being about eight meters above the ground, allowing natural water flow.
The Museum’s drainage system comprises both visible and invisible elements. The visible parts, including drainage outlets and nozzles, efficiently discharge the internal water into the external moat. Meanwhile, the invisible system consists of drainage pipes concealed under the black bricks. After a downpour, rainwater seeps into these pipes and is expelled outside the Museum.
Ma Jiannong, a vice president of the Beijing Historical Research Society, emphasized how the Palace Museum ingeniously integrated practicality and aesthetics in its architecture. The countertops slightly slope outward, aiding drainage while maintaining aesthetic appeal. Ma observed, “This reflects the ancient people’s attention to the practical and aesthetic integration of architectural design concepts.”
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