Aerial view of Beijing Central Axis

[Photo by Ma Wenxiao]

July 27 marks the first anniversary of the inscription of Beijing Central Axis on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Over the past year, this 7.8-kilometer "spine of the ancient capital" has been brimming with new vitality, emerging as a true golden calling card of Beijing.

Following its inscription on the World Heritage List, Beijing Central Axis has emerged as both a renowned cultural tourism landmark and a prominent platform for international exchange and dialogue between cultures. On April 10, 2025, Beijing announced the first batch of 17 venues for the Beijing Culture Forum, 10 of which are located within the Central Axis heritage area and its buffer zones. These include the Imperial Ancestral Temple, the Temple of Heaven, the Bell and Drum Towers, the Qingcheng Palace at Xiannongtan Park, and The Guan: Beijing Central Axis Local Culture Museum. Xiannongtan Park — once the grandest royal site for worshiping the God of Agriculture, it has now transformed into Beijing's diplomatic salon for global governance. It has hosted diplomats and cultural envoys from over 50 countries, as well as more than 270 travel industry representatives from over 40 countries and regions.

The 700-year-old Beijing Central Axis, with its deep cultural legacy and fresh, modern vitality, is becoming an integral part of everyday life. From routine sightseeing and immersive cultural activities to creative souvenirs like fridge magnets shaped as fengguan ("phoenix crown") or Tiangong caisson ceiling, the ancient and the modern now coexist in vivid harmony. Visitors can also unwind on rooftop terraces — sipping tea or coffee, savoring local delicacies, watching theater performances, enjoying concerts, or even playing tennis. Currently, more than 30 rooftop terraces can be found at locations along the Central Axis, such as No. 33 Gulou West Street, No. 20 Zhaofu Street, Longfu Building, and Hongqiao Market. These spaces offer sweeping views of the city's evolving skyline, where the timeless charm of the old capital meets the vibrancy of contemporary life.

A virtual tour of the Beijing Central Axis is also an ideal option. The Digital Central Axis project, a major urban cultural preservation initiative, leverages cutting-edge technologies such as HD scanning, 3D modeling, cloud gaming, and interactive gameplay to faithfully recreate the 7.8-km-long core heritage area, covering 300,000 plants and 2.2 million buildings. Its flagship product, "Digital Central Axis — Microcosm," provides the world's first large-scale immersive digital experience of a city's historical landscape. The project has established a comprehensive digital exhibition ecosystem, which includes the "Digital Central Axis" mini-program, the official Beijing Central Axis website, as well as offline immersive exhibitions at 15 heritage sites along the axis and traveling displays at home and abroad. To date, the mini-program alone has recorded over nine million visits and nearly one million registered users.

Of course, nothing beats an immersive, on-site exploration. A total of 10 curated cultural routes are now available to suit a variety of needs, covering the Forbidden City, the Yongdingmen Gate, Wangfujing, Qianmen, the Bell and Drum Towers, Guijie Street, the Temple of Heaven, and Sanlihe Park. These routes connect museums, art centers, unique blocks, and time-honored brands, creating a tapestry of cultural and consumption experiences. In addition to walking, jogging, and cycling tours, dedicated Central Axis sightseeing buses have also been introduced for the first time, with each bus featuring professional guide services and unique experience activities.

(Sources: Beijing Daily, Beijing Evening News, official WeChat account of the Office of Foreign Affairs Committee of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and the Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Beijing Municipality (Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the People's Government of Beijing Municipality), official WeChat account of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology, etc.)