Southern Song Capital Lin'an

Timeline

1. 1162Lin'an Imperial City · Lin'an PrefectureEmperor Xiaozong of Song acceded in 1162, and the temporary capital Lin'an continued as the Southern Song's center. The imperial city's Great Interior, imperial avenue, and Six Ministries offices maintained their layout from the Shaoxing era; Xiaozong's early rule reformed military and fiscal administration, further consolidating the capital's political functions.
2. 1163–1169Imperial avenue and West Lake area of Lin'an Prefecture city · Lin'an PrefectureFrom Longxing to Qiandao, Lin'an's commerce continued to flourish, with taverns, pawnshops, and exchange shops lining both sides of the imperial avenue, and sightseeing and inns thriving around West Lake. Historical records state that Southern Song Lin'an's population reached the million level, making it the largest urban settlement in Jiangnan at the time.
3. 1170Northern canal and Qiantang River entrance of Lin'an Prefecture city · Lin'an PrefectureAround 1170, Lin'an's grain and supplies depended on Grand Canal grain transport and southeastern sea transport entering the city via the river. Capital granaries, official storehouses, and market purchasing systems sustained food supplies for officials, garrisons, and residents; the water transport network was key infrastructure for Lin'an's survival.