Several museums and cultural venues along the Beijing Central Axis have rolled out new exhibitions to mark the second anniversary of the inscription of this historic urban axis on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Zhengyangmen Gate Tower has reopened to the public after a six-year closure with a new permanent exhibition, while the Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum has launched an exhibition on the ancient Chinese art of caisson ceilings, presenting for the first time the results of a digital conservation project for the caisson ceiling in the central bay of Wanshan Zhengjue Hall at Beijing's Longfu Temple.

On the first floor of Zhengyangmen Gate Tower, artifacts, historical documents, photographs and digital displays recount more than 600 years of the landmark's history. The exhibition also features a set of detailed architectural models, which were constructed according to the proportions of the original buildings and recreate the complete historical layout of the Zhengyangmen Gate complex, including the gate tower, the arrow tower and the barbican.

Digital technologies are adopted for the exhibition. A virtual common swift (a bird also known as "Beijing swift") serves as Zhengyangmen Gate's virtual ambassador and guides visitors through the landmark's past and present. Visitors can also take part in interactive AI programs to learn about the transformation of Beijing's old areas.

The exhibition at the Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum combines valuable artefacts with photographs, texts and multimedia displays to highlight the intricate craftsmanship of the caisson ceiling in the central bay of Wanshan Zhengjue Hall at Longfu Temple. It also showcases the distinctive styles of caisson ceilings from different regions of China.

The greatest highlight of the exhibition is the documentary footage archiving the restoration of the Tiangong Caisson Ceiling, one of the museum's most treasured exhibits. This is the first time the footage has been released to the public. Three original components of the caisson have returned to public display for the first time in 15 years. A hand component from one of the ceiling's guardian figures has also been on display for the first time. The exhibition is included in the museum's general admission and will run until December 25.

(Source: Beijing Daily App)