With eight hundred years' history of urban development, the Central Axis of Beijing is now the largest imperial capital city still existing in China and a classic model of ancient Chinese urban planning. As an outstanding example of feudal China’s capital, the old city of Beijing enjoys a prominent position in the world history of urban planning and development.

To better experience the culture of Beijing, you can try these places on the central axis.

Former Residence of Mei Lanfang

The former residence of Mei Lanfang, a renowned Peking Opera master, is a typical quadrangle courtyard. It occupies an area of about 1,000 square meters. It was originally a part of the Prince Qing’s Mansion. It houses the Mei Lanfang Museum where about 30,000 pieces of exhibits on Mei’s artistic life are on display. Mei Lanfang was born in 1894 and made his stage debut at 11. During his 50-year stage career, he well portrayed more than one hundred female roles, from emperor's concubines, daughters of noble families, female generals, to goddesses.

If you go:

No. 9 Huguosi Street, Xicheng District, Beijing. 010- 83223598

Imperial Palace Wall Relics Park

Situated on the relics of “East Imperial Palace Wall”, the second important city wall in Beijing of Ming and Qing Dynasties, the Imperial Palace Wall Relics Park is the first belt-shaped park constructed in Beijing, and is the city’s largest parking center. There are seven humanist sceneries such as astone-carved Beijing map from the Ming and Qing dynasties.

If you go:

Intersection of Beiheyan Street and Di’anmen East Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing

Ticket: free

Zhengyici Peking Opera Theater

Built on the ruin site of a Buddhist temple in 1688 during the reign of the Kangxi Emperor in the Qing Daynasty, the Zhengyici Peking Opera Theater is one of the "four great opera theaters" in Beijing.

The theater is located at a hutong in Dongcheng District. Zhengyici means a temple for Zhengyi Xuantan Laozu. The Zhengyici Theater opens its doors to Peking Opera-lovers, locals and tourists to share an interesting and unique opera experience.

If you go:

Room 412, Unit 3, No. 12, Xinzhong Street B, Dongcheng District, Beijing. 400-619-8848