In "Xiangzhai" written by the great literary scholar Zhang Taiyan, it was recorded in detail that Zhang Taiyan and Sun Yat-sen discussed the issue of establishing the capital in 1902. At that time, Sun Yat-sen and Zhang Taiyan were involved in activities against the Qing government. Forced to live in exile in Japan, they felt sympathy for each other as soon as they met. The two also had great confidence in China's bright future.
Zhang Taiyan believed that if a new country was established in the future, Nanjing could be the capital. However, Sun Yat-sen did not agree with this view. He felt that "Jinling is not suitable for residence." Sun Yat-sen believed that although Nanjing has convenient water conservancy and transportation, It is developed, and is close to Haikou, which is conducive to development, and has a long historical heritage. However, the terrain is too southeast, which is not conducive to controlling the country. In this regard, Sun Yat-sen put forward three opinions of his own on the strategy of establishing the capital. The first one is Wuchang in Hubei Province as the capital.
"Those who set the tripod should be more sincere than Wuchangruo in the south. Xiangfan can be used to control the power of the river. The railways are already laid out, and the law is extended to the Great Wall, and its scouts are exhausted. "Shuo, the defeat of Jinling is the victory of Wuchang."
Furthermore, Sun Yat-sen believed that Wuchang's ideas were more open and advanced, and Wuchang was also one of the first places in the country to open new schools and promote new schools, and it had a good reputation. Mass base, facts proved that Sun Yat-sen's vision was not wrong. The later Revolution of 1911 originated from the Wuchang Uprising. The second point of view put forward by Sun Yat-sen is to establish the capital in Xi'an
"If you want to have your headquarters, Wuchang will be there; if you want to conquer the vassal, then Xi'an." Sun Yat-sen pointed out that if you want to be able to travel stably across the country, you must make Wuchang the capital. But if you want to pacify the border areas, then Xi'an is an ideal target. Historically, China used to be harassed by nomads, so establishing the capital in Xi'an can strengthen control of border areas. The third place is Yili in Xinjiang
As for Sun Yat-sen’s proposal of the final capital location, it is more bold, that is Yili in Xinjiang. This place also has a long history, but there has never been any Central Plains city in the past. The political power had once set its capital here, but Sun Yat-sen believed that "if you want to seek a big continent, Ili", "If you set the capital in Guanzhong, it will be enough to control Mongolia and Xinjiang, but if you want to be the master of Asia, but it is too narrow, you should move the capital to Ili."
It can be said that Sun Yat-sen had to think long-term, so why did after the Wuchang Uprising, the Republic of China finally settled in Nanjing in 1912, which he was not optimistic about? This is because after the Wuchang Uprising, Wuhan fell, and Nanjing became the most ideal place to live. After the Northern Expedition, Nanjing became the first city in Chinese history to officially have the title of "capital".
From today’s perspective, Mr. Sun Yat-sen’s views had certain limitations due to environmental, political and other concerns at the time, but some of the ideas he proposed are still refreshing and can be used for reference.