中国城市的选址与河流

City Localities and Rivers in Ancient China

中国城市无论都城或地方城市，其城址都是经过精心选择的。中国的都城毫无例外地都把城址选择在河流的沿岸，或距河流不远，而地方城市也大都如此，这是中国城市选址的一条基本规律，根本原因就是为了解决城市供水和水路交通问题。城市选址于河流沿岸，为城市的延续发展提供了优越条件：土地平坦、物产丰盈、供水方便和交通便利。城市的城址比较稳定。

The localities of cities in the historic China were carefully determined. All sites of the capitals were along or not far from rivers, and it was usually the same case for the local cities. The formation of this pattern in the city layout was mainly due to the convenience in water supply or the water transportation. However, the stability of city locality was related closely to the physical environment along the rivers.