Axis is central to capital's appeal

Preservation efforts

Zhao Yan, a resident living in the hutong (alleyway) near Di'anmen Inner Street, says that she has observed changes gradually taking place in her neighborhood, particularly thriving commerce and environmental improvements.

"With the heritage conservation efforts, the street has gradually regained its former glory. The sides of the street are now teeming with shops. At nightfall, the beautiful light shows attract tourists from home and abroad. The street has become so vibrant," Zhao says.

"Before, the charm of the hutong was mostly in the warmth among the neighbors. But with the improvement in environmental quality and the addition of various amenities, many elderly residents who had left the area years ago have now moved back."

Her family members have been actively involved in the preservation of the Central Axis, with her parents being members of the local community volunteer team, and her 8-year-old son joining in a young guide trainee program. She volunteers on weekends, patrolling near the Drum Tower and assisting tourists.

"My roots and my family are here. I love this area deeply, and I have fervently wished for the Beijing Central Axis to be included as a World Heritage Site, so that people from all around the world can get to know my home," she adds.

Apart from the community volunteer programs, anyone with an interest in Beijing's cultural heritage can contribute to the preservation cause through their mobile phones.

To encourage public awareness and participation, the Beijing Cultural Heritage Bureau, Beijing Municipal Office for Conservation and Management of Beijing Central Axis, and technology company Tencent together launched a WeChat mini-program, which allows users to learn about Central Axis' history and values through gameplay and virtual tours.

Those visiting the sites in person can take photos and give feedback on the program, reporting on any problem or hazard they've observed at the heritage sites.

These reports are uploaded to the Beijing Central Axis Conservation Center.

Established in 2022, the center is the management agency for the property, overseeing its protection, monitoring, research and presentation under the guidance of cultural heritage authorities.

The center comprises three divisions: the management center, the monitoring center and the archives center. This structure enables a systematic, technological and public approach to track the condition of cultural relics, environmental factors and visitor traffic.

Real-time data is collected from the heritage components, which are equipped with monitoring devices and receive routine maintenance from site managers, who perform daily inspections, identify hazards and upload their findings to the center.

Looking ahead

"All 48 key tasks in the three-year action plan have been completed. The protection system for the Beijing Central Axis is continually enhancing, and its overall value is profoundly understood by the public," says Chu Jianhao, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Office for Conservation and Management of Beijing Central Axis.

"The historical pattern and charm of the Beijing Central Axis are gradually being restored and vividly reproduced with continuous improvement in the living environment and urban landscape, enhancing the well-being and contentment of the local residents."

According to him, the inscription of the Beijing Central Axis as a UNESCO World Heritage Site demonstrates the continuity, innovation, unity, inclusiveness and peaceful nature of the Chinese civilization. It is both a milestone and a new beginning, marking that the protection of the Beijing Central Axis has entered a new phase.

"Looking ahead, we will carefully summarize the favorable practices of the Central Axis heritage preservation, draw on the international experience in World Heritage Site protection, and fulfill the duties prescribed by the World Heritage Convention to drive the comprehensive preservation of Beijing's old city," Chu says.

"We will also enhance international cultural exchanges, uphold the Global Civilization Initiative, and contribute profound and lasting cultural strength to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind."

Wang Kaihao contributed to this story.