Ancient Chinese built Forbidden City with stones dragged on ice_美文

Ancient Chinese built Forbidden City with stones dragged on ice

"The 49-cubic-meter rock was hauled to Beijing in four weeks. That is an average speed of about eight centimeters per second," Li said.

Studies comparing the ancient Chinese technique of transporting stone with methods from other ancient civilizations show it is more efficient to drag the sledges rather than to use wooden rollers, as the Assyrians did.

Stone said the team's calculations show that dragging the 120-ton rock with a sledge over ground that was not frozen with ice would have required a labor force of more than 1,500 people. On ice or wet wooden rails, on the other hand, it would have required 330 men. The ancient Chinese practice of hauling stone along an ice road lubricated by water would have needed fewer than 50 men.

Questions:

1. Where did the ancient Chinese get the stone to build the Forbidden City?

2. How were the massive stones hauled to Beijing?

3. How long did it take to haul the 49-cubic-meter rock?

Answers:

1. Fangshan.

2. On sledges along icy roads.

3. Four weeks.

About the broadcaster:

Anne Ruisi is an editor at China Daily online with more than 30 years of experience as a newspaper editor and reporter. She has worked at newspapers in the U.S., including The Birmingham News in Alabama and City Newspaper of Rochester, N.Y.