On July 27th, news of Beijing's successful application for the Central Axis World Heritage Site came, and many citizens spontaneously celebrated, expressing their joy and pride, as well as their desire to participate in the protection and inheritance of the Central Axis.
The central axis runs through the north and south of the old city of Beijing. It was first built in the 13th century and formed in the 16th century. Since then, it has continuously evolved and developed, forming the longest urban axis in the world with a total length of 7.8 kilometers today. On this axis, there are not only places where ancient emperors govern, but also places where people live. There are solemn and dignified ceremonial buildings, as well as elegant scenery of pleasant mountains and rivers.
After learning about the successful application for World Heritage status of the central axis, Hu Liangwei and her friends who lived nearby played the instrumental ensemble "Nishang" together at the Beijing Fangxiao Square in Xicheng District. She said that music is like a central axis, with both traditional charm and contemporary elements, and is open and inclusive. In the future, we will also inherit and protect the central axis in our own way, telling the story of the endless life on this line
Beijing adds world-class cultural business card
The central axis, starting from Yongdingmen in the south and ending at the Bell and Drum Tower in the north, runs through the center of Beijing's urban area. It is the axis of spatial planning and culture in Beijing, as well as the soul and lifeline of the city.
The central axis belongs to the type of "architectural complex" in cultural heritage, consisting of ancient royal palace buildings, ancient royal sacrificial buildings, ancient urban management facilities, national etiquette and public buildings, and the remains of the central road, totaling 15 heritage elements.
Mr. Liang Sicheng, an architect, described in his book "Beijing - An Unparalleled Masterpiece in Urban Planning": "An 8-kilometer-long, the world's longest and greatest north-south central axis runs through the entire city. The unique and magnificent order of Beijing is created by the establishment of this axis
From the perspective of excellent traditional Chinese culture, the spiritual pursuit of the Chinese nation and the profound history of Chinese civilization have been fully reflected on the central axis for more than 700 years. Architecture is frozen music, and the central axis with different types of buildings is like a grand symphony, "said Chen Mingjie, Director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Cultural Heritage and Director of the Beijing Central Axis Cultural Heritage Protection Office.
The successful application for World Heritage status of the central axis not only adds a world-class cultural calling card to Beijing, but also builds a new platform for global cultural exchange and mutual learning. Li Qun, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Director of the National Cutural Heritage Administration, said that China will earnestly implement the Convention on the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, and continue to make efforts in the protection and repair of cultural relics, coping with the impact of natural disasters, encouraging community residents to participate, and scientifically guiding tourism development to ensure that the central axis is properly protected and inherited.
Try to avoid affecting production and daily life as much as possible
Climbing up to the southern starting point of the central axis - Yongdingmen City Tower, looking north, the flat and wide southern central axis imperial road extends into the distance, with lush greenery on both sides. Many citizens relax and take walks nearby.
Lin Lingnan, Deputy Director of the State owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of Dongcheng District, pointed to an empty space and introduced to reporters that this was once the location of Beijing Automation Instrument Factory No.2, which happened to be on the southern central axis landscape corridor. According to the "Three Year Action Plan for the Protection of the Beijing Central Axis", the State owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of Dongcheng District has launched relevant relocation work since 2020. After multi-party coordination, the factory buildings were officially relocated and demolished in September 2022, restoring the historical style
Nowadays, the Yongdingmen Park where the city tower is located has added night lighting, which illuminates the park at night and blends with the modern landscape in the distance, creating a blend of ancient and modern styles.
The work of applying for World Heritage protection has played an important role in protecting and inheriting the historical pattern, overall style, and historical context of the old city of Beijing. It is reported that in 2022, the "Regulations on the Protection of Cultural Heritage along the Central Axis of Beijing" officially came into effect, which is the first local regulation formulated in Beijing to protect specific cultural heritage. Wang Yunxia, professor of the Law School of Renmin University of China and director of the Institute of Cultural Heritage Law, explained to the reporter that one of the characteristics of the Regulations was that it solved the problem of protection mechanism and clarified the responsibilities of the competent department.
It does not provide stricter protection measures than current laws, and tries to avoid affecting the production and life of people along the central axis, which to some extent reduces the pressure on residents, "said Wang Yunxia.
In August 2020, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council approved the "Detailed Control Plan for the Capital Functional Core Area (Block Level) (2018-2035)", which clarifies that "the central axis focuses on cultural functions and is a representative area that reflects the cultural confidence of the capital of a great country. It promotes the overall protection and revitalization of the old city, making it a representative area that embodies excellent traditional Chinese culture
Taking the application for World Heritage protection of the central axis as the starting point, a large number of key cultural relics and historical buildings have been repaired, and the surrounding environment of cultural relics has been renovated. The more beautiful and panoramic central axis has become a "beautiful scenic line" in the capital.
The successful application for World Heritage status is a new starting point, "said Li Qun. In the future, we will also study and formulate plans and strategies for the exhibition and tourism development of Beijing's central axis, gradually expand the scope of exhibition areas, launch themed exhibition trails, increase the supply of cultural products, improve the ability to regulate tourism activities, gradually improve the tourist experience, and reduce the impact of tourism activities on heritage areas, buffer zones, and their residents.
Protecting the cultural heritage at our doorstep
As the fifth representative inheritor of the Chinese intangible cultural heritage, Jingzuo Hardwood Furniture Manufacturing Technology, Liu Gengsheng was born in Luban Hutong on the east side of Beijing's central axis. Later, he took over his father's class and worked at Longshuncheng Furniture Factory outside Yongdingmen.
In recent years, Liu Gengsheng has participated in restoration projects along the central axis such as the "Ping An Palace Museum Restoration Project" and the "Tiananmen Gate Tower Restoration Project", using chisels, axes, and saws to protect the culture and memory between the mortise and tenon joints. I have never left the central axis since birth to work, and I have a mother like deep affection for it. Now that I have successfully applied for World Heritage status, can I not be happy? "Liu Gengsheng told reporters with a smile.
In recent years, the environment has been renovated and improved, the hutongs have become more beautiful, and the living environment has taken a big step forward. The successful application for World Heritage status for the central axis has attracted everyone's attention and protection, and our living environment will be even better! "The news of the successful application for World Heritage status for the central axis in Beijing came, and Fan Laiyou and his neighbors living at No. 90 Zhonglou Bay happily shared the good news and expressed their hopes for a better future.
Fan Laiyou, who is 69 years old this year, is a true 'old Beijing'. Planting flowers and drinking tea in the alley courtyard, playing shuttlecock to meet friends in the square, and under the bell and drum tower, Fan Laiyou is living a comfortable retirement life. The application for World Heritage status of Beijing's central axis has driven a series of efforts to protect the old city, including the restoration of ancient buildings and the improvement of its appearance. This not only improves Fan Laiyou's living environment, but also makes him realize the importance of cultural heritage to the lives of local residents.
In January 2024, Fan Laiyou gained an additional identity: Supervisor of Beijing Central Axis Cultural Heritage Protection. He wants to work with the old streets and neighborhoods to protect the cultural heritage at his doorstep.
The protection and restoration of cultural relics on this line are still ongoing, and the historical and cultural heritage of the city still needs to be continuously inherited and developed. In the future, more citizens will participate in the protection and development of the central axis, jointly safeguarding the "backbone" of this city.