The 7.8-kilometer-long Beijing Central Axis runs from the Bell and Drum Towers at the north end to the Yongding Gate at the south end, passing through the Wanning Bridge, Jingshan, the Forbidden City, Duanmen, Tian’anmen Square, Waijinshui Bridge, Tian’anmen Square and its buildings, Zhengyang Gate, and the road remains of the southern section of the Central Axis; and the Temple of Heaven and the Temple of Agriculture are laid out symmetrically from east to west on both sides.

The Central Axis is a showcase of the grandeur and heritage of the ancient capital, and is known as the "soul and backbone of the old city". As the most complete traditional capital city axis in the world, the Beijing Central Axis embodies the great creativity and outstanding talent of the Chinese people in urban planning and construction. It is the living carrier of traditional Chinese culture and it records the wonderful memories of Chinese civilization. At the northern end of the central axis, the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower, one to the north and one to the south, have been looking at each other for hundreds of years. The morning bell and evening drum trigger not only the vibration of sound and the memory of history, but also the emotional resonance across time and space.

The central axis is a physical axis, a cultural axis, and a development axis for the capital in the new era. "If Beijing is compared to a five-line musical score, the central axis is the most beautiful melody in it. The people who live here use their own stories to accompany the axis with the most beautiful chords of the new era's development." Fang Che, who grew up in Shichahai Hutong, speaks the mind of many Beijing citizens.

Efforts have been made in repairing and preserving cultural heritage, managing the surrounding environment, improving the living environment, renovating stores with traditional architectural style, and implementing green space landscape enhancement projects ...... Beijing's central axis is magnificent and orderly, blending ancient and modern styles, and solemn and atmospheric elements, and an open space scroll is slowly being spread out.

To the north, the Beijing Olympic Park, which held the 2008 Summer Olympics and 2022 Winter Olympics, is witnessing the growth of the world's only "City of Two Olympics". To the south, Beijing Daxing International Airport, the world's largest single airport terminal, is opening up to the world and shining in the sunlight. The 7.8-kilometer central axis is bursting with new vitality as it continues to stretch its bones and continue civilization.

Translator: WANG Yiwen

Reviewer: BAO Minmin