Shanjing

**Shanjing** is the capital of the State of Xandu, which is itself a component state of the wider Chen Empire. In terms of physical size and developed area, it is the second largest city in the world. As of March 2020, it is the second-most populous by villager population.

It was at one point occupied by Great Thornia and significant global political turmoil saw the city become a UN-protected territory. The collapse of the UN saw the Thornians hastily establish a client city-state known as the **Free City of Shanjing**. Internal conflict within Thornia allowed the city to be liberated by the Chen Empire and Xandunese government-in-exile. The government-in-exile of the Thornian puppet state has since been evacuated to Palus.

The city is located in the south-eastern mountain ranges of the Western continent in Greater Shanjing. It is home to the world's tallest buildings and largest religious monument. Much of the city centre's area is hilly, with builders using explosives to clear land and collect the stone from the surrounding mountains.

## History

### First stage of development (2016 - 2019)

Shanjing was founded in mid 2016. It is unclear whether it was Ray or Weihan who arrived at the site of the future city first. What is understood is that Fort Shanjing was one of the first structures built in the city. Temples and large towers intended for housing were built by Ray, whilst Weiryn built shopping and smaller housing precincts on the east bank of the Shanjing River Valley.

Sometime between 2016 and 2018, Ray built the Xandu Rapid Transit System (XRTS) that encircled the city and several new religious structures including the Big Skewer on the eastern mountains. He also built the State Treasury building in a Greco-Roman style.

### Second stage of development (March 2020 - Present)

Major developments ceased in 2018 as the server went through several hiatuses. Development resumed in early 2020 when Clarence's offer to continue development was accepted by Weihan. His new developments included greenifying empty lots around the city, effectively creating forests within the city. High-density housing in the Thornian style for villagers were also built on the west bank. Some of Ray's buildings on the west bank were also converted into high-density housing and Weiryn's housing on the east bank were furnished with beds.

The city was populated with villagers for the first time, and the hundred-plus beds allowed the population to grow into the second-most populated city in the world.

#### Battle of Shanjing (27 March 2020)

On 27 March 2020, the city was attacked by several pillager armies on both banks of the Shanjing River. The Thornian Royal Iron Guard was stationed in the city at the time and managed to repel the armies. There was minimal civilian loss of life as the large number of housing units located on ground level (rather than multi-story one) allowed for widespread evacuations.

The Royal Iron Guard was renamed to the Federal Guard after the Great Thornia government decided to continue stationing military forces in Xandu legally. This means that the guard was now an asset of the league, and not of Great Thornia.

## Architecture

The city is a patchwork of traditional Old Earth Xandunese architecture and brutalist, modern architecture. The city does not follow a coherent urban plan, but the relatively simplistic layout of the city on a north-south axis and east-west precincts make it easy to navigate for newcomers.

Much of the city's original structures follow Ray and Weiryn's architectural styles. Ray's style resembles brutalism but with colourful flourishes on large-scale individual structures. Weiryn's style utilises a wide variety of materials on various groups of identical housing or shop units.

Development stagnated between 2017 and early 2020. In March 2020, Clarence was given the go-ahead by Weihan to help build new housing and public buildings, as well as to help spruce-up the city's appearance. This has seen most green spaces transformed into giant spruce and birch forests, making the city look significantly greener than ever before. Elysia-style mid-rise housing for villagers are also being built amongst the various existing structures of the city.

## Public transportation

Shanjing is one of three cities (Shanjing, Elysia, and Ty Town) in the world to boast a public transportation system in the form of the Xandu Rapid Transit System (XRTS), built sometime between 2016 and 2018.

As of 2020, Clarence has proposed a nationwide metro system connecting all four member states of the league. This would involve each state having its own local metro systems connected. Elysia was the first to have a metropolitan rail network. A Shanjing/Xandu Metro connecting Shanjing to the villages in Xandu's north east is being mulled during Clarence's development residency in Shanjing.