Beijing Central Axis, running north-south through the heart of the old city of Beijing and gaveling the overall layout of the capital, is an ensemble of building complexes and archeological sites, comprising 15 components. It contains imperial palaces and gardens, imperial sacrificial buildings, ancient city management facilities, national ceremonial and public buildings, and central axis roads remains. Initially constructed in the 13th century and shaped in the 16th century. Beijing Central Axis was continuously refined over seven centuries, giving rise to a well-organized and imposing building ensemble that manifests the ideal order of the Chinese capital deep rooted in the Chinese capital planning tradition for over two millennia.

Bell and Drum Towers

Being the landmarks of the northern end of Beijing Central Axis in the commercial district of the old city, the Bell and Drum Towers, together with the Tian'anmen Gate, the Upright Gate and the Forbidden City, form a paradigm of the imperial court area of capital city planning, embodying "court in the front, market in the back" as prescribed in the Kaogongji. The magnificent statures of the Bell and Drum Towers contrast with the surrounding low-lying residential buildings with their gray walls and tiled roofs, presenting an important viewpoint of Beijing Central Axis. The towers were significant city management facilities for time keeping and announcing the time during the Ming and Qing dynasties, bearing witness to the traditional way of life.

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Wanning Bridge

The Wanning Bridge is the oldest bridge on Beijing Central Axis. Its location and function have remained unchanged for over seven centuries. The structure contains layered information from various periods of history and provides vital material evidence of the superimposed relationship of Beijing Central Axis between the Dadu of the Yuan dynasty and the capital of the Ming and Qing dynasties as well as moden China.

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Jingshan Hill

The Jingshan Hill is the tallest point and a key skyline node on Beijing Central Axis. Its position and relationship to the north of the Forbidden City demonstrate the planning concept of Chinese palaces and gardens. Its towering hill picturesque garden, and ornate buildings enrich the architectural sequence of the Axis. With its unique garden landscape, the Jingshan Hill has dual functions for both sacrificial rituals and the artificially created mountain setting providing a high elevation from which to look out over the city. It testifies to the imperial ceremonial and ritual traditions carried out in the Qing dynasty.

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Forbidden City

Located on Beijing Central Axis, the Forbidden City was the palace city of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Its location in relation with the old city of Beijing epitomizes the ancient Chinese concept of urban planning of "building the imperial palace at the central location". The imperial court area formed by the Tian'anmen Gate, the Upright Gate, and the Forbidden City, together with the Bell and Drum Towers in the north exhibit the urban planning paradigm of "court in the front, market in the back" as prescribed in the Kaogongji. The Forbidden City is an outstanding example of the imperial palace in China. The centered and symmetrical planning pattern and the well ordered landscape demonstrate the principle of "choosing the center." It was a place where the imperial families hosted national celebrations, administered government affairs, and enjoyed daily activities. As a significant material, carrier of national etiquettes and cultural traditions, the Forbidden City has witnessed the Chinese cultural tradition of inclusion and diversity. The establishment of the Palace Museum in 1925 marks an important step in the development of Beijing Central Axis toward public access, and the museum bears witness to the historical transformation of the Chinese society from a dynastic system into a modern state.

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Altar of Land and Grain

The strictly symmetrical layout of the Imperial Ancestral Temple and the Altar of Land and Grain on Beijing Central Axis embodies the ideal capital city's planning paradigm as prescribed in the Kaogongji. The ancestral temple must be built on the left, while the altar of land and grain must be on the right. The Altar of Land and Grain is the most complete extant ancient imperial altar in China that was used to worship Tai She (the God of Land) and Tai Ji (the God of Grain) The altar reflected the comprehension and worship of land and the desire for the eternity of the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity in traditional Chinese culture. As the first imperial building turned into an urban park in Beijing, the Altar of Land and Grain reflects the transformation to the increased public accessibility of Beijing Central Axis.

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Imperial Ancestral Temple

The rigorously symmetrical layout of the Imperial Ancestral Temple and the Altar of Land and Grain on Beijing Central Axis embodies the ideal capital city's planning paradigm as prescribed in the Kaogongji. Serving the imperial families of the Ming and Qing dynasties, the Imperial Ancestral Temple is the material carrier of the Chinese cultural tradition of I"worshiping the ancestors'". It is an essential building for national rituals and the most complete and largest extant building complex of ancestral worship by the imperial families. The Sacrificial Hall in the Imperial Ancestral Temple is a timber structure from the Ming dynasty. It is the highest-ranked construction of official architecture from the Ming and Qing dynasties, featuring an unprecedented scale of its kind, with exquisite materials, representing the highest accomplishment of the art of imperial architecture from this period.

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Upright Gate

The Upright Gate was an essential part of the leading space for ritual activities before entering and exiting the palace city and part of the imperial court. Together with the Tiananmen Gate, the Upright Gate features a towering volume and a solemn style, highlighting dignity and divinity of central axis buildings in the palace city and the imperial city.

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Tian'anmen Gate

The Tian‘anmen Gate was the main front gate of the imperial city during the Ming and Qing dynasties, leading to the palace city and forming a part of the imperial court area. It exhibits the ideal urban planning paradigm of "court in the front and market in the back" as prescribed in the Kaogongji. The Tian'anmen Gate was where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties issued their imperial edicts. It has become a venue for major national events and a carrier of national rituals and stood witness to the end of the over 2,000-year dynastic system and the establishment of the People's Republic of China.

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Outer Jinshui Bridges

The location of the Outer Jinshui Bridges strictly corresponds to five arched gateways of the Tian'anmen Gate, and south gates of the Imperial Ancestral Temple and the Altar of Land and Grain. The layout, width, and decorative details of the bridges all reflect the planning principle of "choosing the center." They have borne an important ceremonial function ever since their inception In the Ming and Qing dynasties, used for entering and exiting the imperial city and passing from the Forbidden City to the southern suburbs when the emperor went out to participate in worship ceremonies. Today, it is still an essential part of the ceremonial space where important state celebrations are hosted.

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Tian'anmen Square Complex

Constructed in the Ming dynasty and extended in the mid-20th century, the Tian'anmen Square Complex is located at the heart of Beijing Central Axis and is an important example of its modern transformation. The square's planning respects and emphasizes the principle of the Axis balance and symmetry. The architecture and landscape of the Tian'anmen Square Complex demonstrate China's efforts in modern times to explore and innovate on the national style in the design of public buildings in the mid-20th century. These interventions reflect important milestones in the progress of urban planning and architecture design in the modern era. Today, the Tian anmen Square Complex is the preeminent venue for hosting state-level activities and cultural events as well as grand celebrations for the people. Ever since its inception, the square complex has witnessed the historical continuity of China's state ritual traditions.

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Zhengyangmen Gate

The Zhengyangmen Gate was a city gate complex for defensive purposes and with urban management functions during the Ming and Qing dynasties. As the central south gate of the inner city of Beijing in the Ming and Qing dynasties, the Zhengyangmen Gate is the largest and highest ranked city gate among the gates of Inner and outer cities, and has witnessed the traditional way of urban management in ancient China. It is one of the key viewpoints to enjoy a distant view of the Tian'anmen Square Complex and an important part of the landscape in the souther section of Belling Central Axis.

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Altar of the God of Agriculture

The Altar of the God of Agriculture sits west of Beijing Central Axis in symmetry to the Temple of Heaven on the east. This layout highlights the respect for and emphasis on rituals and order in Chinese capital city planning.

As the largest existing ancient Chinese venue for imperial sacrificial ceremonies in honor of the God of Agriculture, the altar also reveals how traditional Chinese society showed respect for its agrarian culture. It is thus a carrier of the ceremonial traditions of the Ming and Qing dynasties that offered sacrifices to the God of Agriculture.

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Temple of Heaven

The siting of the Temple of Heaven reflects the ancient Chinese cultural tradition of setting "sacrificial facilities in the southern suburb." Its location, planning pattern, and symmetrical east-west layout with the Altar of the God of Agriculture highlight the respect for and emphasis on rituals and order in Chinese capital city planning. They also give prominence to the dominant role of Beijing Central Axis in urban planning. The Temple of Heaven is China's largest and best-preserved Ming and Qing era building complex for heaven-worshiping ceremonies. Its architectural and landscape design exhibits the ancient Chinese worldview, making it a masterpiece of imperial architecture for ceremonial worship in ancient China and a carrier of national heaven-worshiping rituals and cultural traditions of the Ming and Qing dynasties.

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Southern Section Road Archeological Sites

The southern section of the central axis roads is a key link between well-arranged urban complexes and public spaces. It was on the route that had to be passed for national rituals and ceremonies during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The Southern Section Road Archeological Sites are the material evidence that irrefutably show the location, orientation, engineering techniques, and history of continuous use of the central roads, bearing witness to the state ritual traditions that has continued on Beijing Central Axis to this day.

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Yongdingmen Gate

The Yongdingmen Gate was the southern portal of the outer city of Beijing during the Ming and Qing dynasties.

It is the highest ranked of the seven gates in Beijing's outer city, exhibiting the superior status of the buildings on Beijing Central Axis and providing a unique testimony to the methods of traditional urban management during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The existing Yongdingmen Gate is a historical landmark for marking the site of the original Gate which was demolished in 1950s and rebuilt in 2005 strictly following the Principles for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage Sites in China. The location of the gate tower marks the position of Beijing Central Axis' southern end, exhibiting the traditional forms and architectural techniques applied in constructing city gate towers in ancient China. It is an essential scenic spot for viewing the landscape of the south section of Beijing Central Axis.

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