Most of the ancient capital cities in the Plains of China had central axes within the walls, such as Beijing, Xi'an, Kaifeng, etc. The axes organize the urban layout into an orderly whole, which is reflected in both the elements of spatial layout and the historical context of the cultural level.

The central axis of Beijing was laid the basis in the Yuan Dynasty, during the Yongle and Jiajing years of the Ming Dynasty the overall structure was basically formed, and in the late Ming and Qing dynasties, the overall spatial arrangement of the Beijing central axis was inherited and continued, and local adjustments and improvements were carried out. The central axis of Beijing City runs from the Bell and Drum Tower in the north and to Yongdingmen in the south, with about 7.8 kilometers as the crow flies. On this magnificent urban axis, there are both magnificent royal buildings, quaint residential courtyards, and important modern buildings.

Nowadays, as the focus of the protection of Beijing as a famous historical and cultural city, the application of the central axis for World Heritage has been gradually carried out. This year, the formal submission of the application text will be completed. The 14 heritage sites that have been identified are Yongdingmen Gate, Xiannong Altar, Temple of Heaven, Zhengyangmen Gate& Watchtower, Chairman Mao Zedong Memorial Hall, Monument to the People's Heroes, Tiananmen Square, Tiananmen Gate, Sheji Altar (the Altar of Land and Grain), Taimiao Temple (Imperial Ancestral Temple), Forbidden City, Jingshan Mountain, Wanningqiao Bridge, and Drum Tower& Bell Tower.