Recently, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the State Council approved a detailed plan for the core area of the capital city of Beijing for the 2018-2035 period. The Central Axis, with its predominantly cultural functions, is a representative area that embodies the cultural confidence of the capital of a great nation. What are the historical and cultural attractions along the central axis?

From south to north, the landmarks are: Yongding Gate, Altar of the God of Agriculture, the Temple of Heaven, Qianmen Street, Zhengyangmen Gate, Tian'anmen Square, Tian'anmen Tower, the Forbidden City, Imperial Ancestral Temple, Altar of Land and Grain, Jingshan Park, Wanning Bridge, and the Bell and Drum Towers.

Yongding Gate

The Central Axis starts from Yongding Gate in the south. Yongding Gate is the main gate of the outer city of Beijing, which means "Lasting Peace". The present Yongding Gate Tower was rebuilt later.

Address: Inside the Yongding Gate Park, Yongding Gate East Binhe Lu(Rd), Dongcheng District, Beijing 

Altar of the God of Agriculture

Xiannong Altar is one of the "Five Altars" of Beijing, which was shared by the Ming and Qing Dynasties as a place of worship for Xiannong (the gods of agriculture) and performing farm work. It is not as famous as the four altars of Heaven, Earth, Sun and Moon, but its importance to a large agricultural country like China is self-evident. It now houses the Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum.

Address: No. 2 Dongjing Lu(Rd), Xicheng District, Beijing

Temple of Heaven

The Temple of Heaven is so famous that it has been listed as a World Heritage Site. The image of its main building, the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, symbolizes both Beijing within China and China on the global stage. The Temple of Heaven is not on the central axis like Yongding Gate, but on the east side of the Central Axis. However, the main entrance of the Temple of Heaven, the West Gate, is on the Central Axis. The Temple of Heaven is also one of the must-visit places for first-time Beijing tourists.

Address: East side of Yongdingmen Neidajie(St), Dongcheng District, Beijing

Qianmen Street

Qianmen Street, which has served as a crucial route for imperial sacrificial ceremonies since 1439, is a very famous commercial street in old Beijing. After its renovation in 2008, the street has become quite spacious. The nostalgic "ding-ding" cars, which have been operating since 1924, add a touch of retro charm. Visitors to the area can experience these unique vehicles. On both sides of the street, Dashilan and Xianyukou food streets offer a variety of time-honored brands and traditional Beijing delicacies, perfect for a leisurely stroll and sampling local treats.

Zhengyangmen Gate

Zhengyangmen, located on the southern side of Tian'anmen Square, is the southern gate of old Beijing's inner city and one of the "Nine Gates of Beijing." The original Zhengyangmen included the main gate tower, an arrow tower, and a defensive city gate. Today, only the main gate tower and the arrow tower remain. Visitors can explore the Beijing Folk Customs Museum located in the main gate tower.

Tian'anmen Square

During the Ming and Qing dynasties, Tian'anmen Square was a palace courtyard outside the main gate of the Forbidden City and was considered a restricted area. Today, the square features the Monument to the People's Heroes, with the National Museum of China on the east side and the Great Hall of the People on the west side. The daily flag-raising ceremony is also a noteworthy event to witness.

Tian'anmen Tower

The Tian'anmen Tower is located at the northern end of the square. The resplendent Tian'anmen Tower was originally constructed in the 15th year of the Ming Dynasty's Yongle period (1417) and was originally named "Chengtian Gate". It was renamed "Tian'anmen" after its renovation in the 8th year of the Qing Dynasty's Shunzhi period (1654) and has retained this name to this day. The gate features five tiers and nine bays and stands 33.7 meters high. The tower is divided into nine rooms on the east and west sides and five rooms on the north and south, symbolizing the imperial power of "nine-five supremacy".

The Forbidden City

The Forbidden City, established in 1420 and now 600 years old, needs no further introduction. As the top must-visit destination for anyone traveling to Beijing, it remains the number one attraction from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Generally speaking, the 80,000 available reservations are fully booked every day. To visit the Forbidden City, it's crucial to remember: make your reservation in advance.

Address: No. 4 Jingshan Qianjie(St), Dongcheng District, Beijing

Imperial Ancestral Temple

The Imperial Ancestral Temple, now known as the Cultural Palace of Nationalities, is located on the eastern side of Tian'anmen Square. It served as the ancestral temple for the Ming and Qing dynasties' royal family and remains a central embodiment of Chinese ancestral worship culture.

Today the Zhongshan Concert Hall of the Cultural Palace of Nationalities is a temple for children to experience music.

Address: East of Tian'anmen Square, Dongcheng District, Beijing

Altar of Land and Grain

Located in Zhongshan Park on the west side of Tian'anmen Square, the Imperial Divine Temple formed a pattern of "ancestors on the left and societies on the right" with the Imperial Ancestral Temple, and was mainly dedicated to the gods of the land and grains during the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Nowadays, Zhongshan Park has a beautiful environment and is full of flowers, especially orchids. The orchids presented by Commander Zhu are still emitting an attractive fragrance.

Address: Zhongshan Park, west of Tian'anmen Square, Xicheng District, Beijing

Jingshan Park

Coming out of the north gate of the Forbidden City and you will find the main entrance of Jingshan Park across the road. Jingshan Park is most famous for its five pavilions, of which the highest one, Wanchun Pavilion, is the center of Beijing. It is also the place where Emperor Chongzhen of the Ming Dynasty hanged himself. The crooked tree at that time is very inconspicuous and can be easily overlooked if you don't look for it specifically.

Another very important attraction in Jingshan Park is the Shouhuang Hall, which was opened only in the past two years and is the second largest building complex on the Central Axis after the Forbidden City. It is where the royal family worships their ancestors and displays the portraits of the emperor and empress, reflecting the royal sacrificial rituals, ancestor respect and filial piety culture.

Address: No.44, Jingshan Xijie(St), Xicheng District, Beijing

Wanning Bridge

Wanning Bridge is located on the old course of Yuhe River east of Qianhai Lake in Shichahai. It was first built in 1276. It was originally a wooden bridge and later rebuilt into a stone bridge. It is one of the heritage sites of the Grand Canal World Cultural Heritage. To the west of the bridge is the Fire God Temple and to the east of the bridge is Yuhe River. You can appreciate the historical landscape of "water streets running through alleys".

Bell and Drum Tower

The Bell and Drum Tower is a group of buildings at the northernmost end of Beijing's Central Axis, and was the timekeeping center of the capital of the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. The morning bells and evening drums, the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower complement each other, and are magnificent.

Address: No.9, Linzi, Zhonglouwan, Dongcheng District, Beijing