The Legend of Korra introduces a new age, where Avatar Aang has passed away and been reborn as Avatar Korra, a brash young woman from the Southern Water Tribe. Korra has an adventurous streak, and she visits many exotic locales on her quest to save the world. The jaw-dropping sights of Republic City were just the beginning. By Season 3, Korra would lay her eyes on another remarkable city, a metropolis unlike any other.
By the time the Red Lotus organization is launching its scheme to destroy Korra, the avatar finds herself in the Earth Kingdom, and she is escorted by Lin Beifong, the police chief, to the wondrous metal city of Zaofu. It was only recently built, but it has already made a name for itself. What wonders does it hold?
Suyin Beifong And Her Dream City
The Earth Kingdom is an ancient place, steeped in tradition and culture, and the vast metropolis of Ba Sing Se is symbolic of this land's patient, methodical, bureaucratic ways. Toph Beifong once described Ba Sing Se as a horrible place of walls and rules, but she would not have that opinion of Zaofu, which is a new breed of city in the Earth Kingdom. Zaofu happens to be founded by Toph's daughter Suyin Beifong.
Suyin always had a taste for adventure, and her entrepreneurial spirit led her to use all her worldly experience to found a new city where people could reach their full potential. Suyin had wandered the world for years, and she was a starry-eyed optimist who wanted to share her hope for the future with other people. At some point, she had saved up enough money t0o buy a piece of land in the Earth Kingdom, and she and her future husband Baatar designed and built the all-metal city. In a way, Suyin and Baatar are the mother and father of this wondrous city, and they started a family there. Zaofu continued to grow and gained the approval of Toph, who visited her estranged daughter's new home. A few statues in Toph's honor were erected, mainly to honor her role in the history of metalbending.
The Culture, Features & Story Of Zaofu
If one word were to describe Zaofu, it would be optimistic, just like its founder herself. Zaofu is unique in the Earth Kingdom in that it's not weighed down by ancient traditions, noble houses or old money. It's a fresh start physically and in spirit, and anyone who moves there or is born there can remake themselves. In a way, Zaofu is one giant workshop, where the people can innovate with science, technology and metalbending. In Zaofu, a person can discard their personal baggage and pursue new skills, hobbies and philosophies as they choose. One example is Suyin's personal chef, a burly man who was once a brutal pirate. Now, however, this fellow is a peaceful and talented chef, remaking himself in the spirit of his new home.
Zaofu is laid out in a series of five sectors shaped like lotus blooms that are all connected with a railway system. While beautiful, this shape is also important for defense; the metal flowers can fold up and close to form solid domes, protecting Zaofu from attack. Each night, all five of Zaofu's sectors close up this way, and "blossom" the next morning. Zaofu is also noted for having no Satomobiles, since the rail system and pedestrian-friendly layout makes them unnecessary, setting it apart from Republic City.
Avatar Korra was escorted to Zaofu to protect her from the Red Lotus. There, she learned to bend metal with the aid of Suyin. However, Suyin's associate Aiwei was a double agent who allowed Zaheer and his gang to break into the city. Korra fought them off, but Zaofu was no longer safe for her, and she ended up leaving. Three years later, the former Zaofu security guard Kuvira formed her mighty Earth Empire, and she demanded that Zaofu allow itself to be incorporated. Suyin refused, and Korra and Kuvira clashed while Kuvira's assembled army watched. In the end, Zaofu was assimilated into the Empire, and Kuvira moved on to Republic City.
