Yongding Gate has enriched its display methods, Zhengyang Gate has been equipped with intelligent monitoring equipment, and the Bell and Drum Towers have been updated with immersive interactive experience. It will be one year since the Beijing Central Axis was successfully listed as a World Heritage Site. Along the 7.8-kilometer spine of the ancient capital, pearls continue to shine with vitality and new highlights are constantly emerging.
The central axis, the first line, connects the past with the present. With the help of cutting-edge technology, cultural heritage can be better protected and inherited. Along the central axis, a number of new cultural and tourism scenes are "growing".
After the renovation, Zhengyang Gate is open to tourists and has become another check-in spot along the central axis
1.Yongding Gate Tower will be maintained
In the summer, Yongdingmen Park is full of greenery. On both sides of the ancient south central axis imperial road, citizens and tourists are walking in groups in the shade to rest, exercise and have fun, feeling the coolness in the hot summer.
From the Yongdingmen Tower at the southern end of Beijing's central axis, looking northward reveals a serene and majestic panorama of the city's grand layout. Along the Imperial Path, 32 large Chinese scholar trees stand in vertical rows, forming a transparent visual corridor that silently narrates the 700-year history of the Southern Central Axis.
"Yongdingmen Tower, the southern gate of Beijing's outer city walls, stands as the most magnificent among the seven outer gates. It bears witness to traditional urban governance during the Ming and Qing dynasties and significant historical events across different eras," explained Chen Yanqing, deputy director of Dongcheng District Cultural Relics Research Center, while standing atop the tower. The existing structure, reconstructed in 2005 in accordance with China's cultural heritage protection standards, consists of the main tower, a south-facing barbican, and ground-level arrow towers. "As a vital landmark along the Southern Central Axis, Yongdingmen showcases the traditional architectural forms and craftsmanship of ancient Chinese city towers."
After Beijing's Central Axis was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, Yongdingmen has become a must-visit hotspot. The "Yongdingmen: A Gateway to the Nation" cultural exhibition, featuring modern display techniques, has drawn millions of visitors to ascend the city gate and engage in dialogue between past and present. Events like "Singing the Central Axis" and the Yongdingmen Light Show have breathed new life into these historic structures.
"In the second half of the year, we will carry out the restoration of the Yongding Gate Tower. After the overall 'maintenance', the exhibition will be further upgraded to meet the needs of more visitors," said Chen Yanqing.
The squares and parks north and south of Yongding Gate have become places for citizens to relax and walk
2.Beidou monitoring station was set up at Zhengyang Gate
Starting from Yongding Gate, along the central axis to the north to Zhengyang Gate, the arrow tower and the city tower stand facing each other, one in the south and one in the north.
Since its opening at the end of 2024, the popularity of Zhengyangmen Arrow Tower has continued to rise. During the summer vacation, all the 1,200 daily reservations for the visit have been filled.
Standing in the courtyard of the arrow tower and looking up, the double-eaved hip roof with gray barrel tiles and green glazed tile trim, the Western-style white canopy on the arrow window, and the suspended moon platform on both sides of the east and west are shining brightly in the sun.
"The Arrow Tower features numerous distinctive Western architectural elements. To preserve historical details as comprehensively as possible, we implemented advanced technological solutions," explained Chen Liang, Director of Heritage Conservation at the Beijing Central Axis Heritage Protection Center. During the World Heritage nomination process for the central axis, three-dimensional laser scanning technology was employed in the tower's restoration. "For severely damaged components, we conducted comprehensive scans to create 3D models. These were then used to produce molds for reconstructing window lintels and balustrades. Every restoration adhered strictly to original materials, traditional designs, craftsmanship methods, and construction techniques."
Nowadays, the key information collected during restoration has become an important digital archive for cultural heritage protection.
At the archaeological cabin of Zhengyang Bridge site, tourists can see the historical relics such as the water-taming beast and part of the bridge body, and feel the history and culture of Zhengyang Gate
Visitors ascending the Arrow Tower will notice advanced technological installations around the ancient structures. "This multifunctional weather station monitors micro-environmental conditions," explained Zhou Ziyu, Director of Heritage Monitoring at Beijing's Central Axis Heritage Conservation Center, gesturing toward two prominent devices. "The integrated Beidou monitoring station detects potential foundation subsidence through real-time data analysis." The Zhengyangmen Arrow Tower is equipped with five specialized sensors utilizing remote sensing satellites and IoT technologies to ensure comprehensive preservation. "Our system includes static level meters, intelligent video disturbance detectors, and wireless acceleration sensors - each designed to detect structural subsidence, displacement, or vibrations," he elaborated
All the data collected by these devices will be transmitted in real time to the Beijing Central Axis Heritage Protection Center through 5G signals and displayed on a huge electronic monitoring screen.
China's first heritage monitoring platform utilizing 3D digital twin technology has been launched. The Beijing Central Axis Cultural Heritage Monitoring and Protection Platform allows users to monitor 15 heritage components along the axis through touchscreen icons, viewing details including cultural relics' physical structures, surrounding natural environments, and real-time visitor counts. "We've installed monitoring devices at key locations such as Zhengyangmen City Tower, Xian Nong Tan (Altar of Agriculture), She Ji Tan (Altar of Land and Grain), and Bell and Drum Towers," said Zhou Ziyu. He added that more ancient buildings along the central axis will soon be equipped with smart monitoring systems.
3.The Bell and Drum Tower creates a "fantastic journey"
Relying on digital technology, the ancient central axis shines with brilliant colors in the new era.
On the first floor of the Drum Tower, visitors from across China enter the "Story of Time" exhibition hall, where they listen to the echoes of "evening drums and morning bells". Inside the central archway, an immersive light show titled "Resonance" unfolds. As the lights dim and ambient sounds begin, audiences follow the rhythmic beats of the drum and bell, wandering through the immersive space. Through four layers of digital light art, they experience the temporal transformations of the Drum Tower, retracing the story of preserving and inheriting Beijing's central axis heritage.
Following Beijing's successful World Heritage inscription for its central axis, the Drum Tower has introduced a VR experience zone inviting visitors on a "Magic Night Along the Central Axis". "In the digital realm, we embark from the Bell and Drum Towers at the northern end of the axis, following the roof ridge beast' Xiaolongzi 'to embark on a mysterious time-travel journey back to the Yuan Dynasty capital's construction era over 700 years ago," said Yu Hui, deputy director of the Bell and Drum Towers Cultural Relics Conservation Institute. Acting as a virtual tour guide, she led visitors through the axis: "This immersive experience allows us to witness firsthand how Liu Bingzhong, the architect of Yuan Dadu, planned the city-state, explore the origins of the central axis and the Chinese wisdom behind it, while appreciating the aesthetic essence of traditional Chinese philosophy."
During the summer vacation, tourists visit the Drum Tower and experience the history of Beijing's Bell and Drum Towers
The ancient "time architecture" is being reimagined to blend seamlessly with modern life. "Over the past year, Zhonggulou has seen a steady rise in youth study tour groups. Rather than superficial sightseeing, more visitors now engage in immersive experiences to explore historical roots," said Yu Hui. Through innovative exhibitions, the tower has launched cultural products, specialty dining options, and educational programs. "The Drum Tower courtyard regularly hosts concerts and film screenings. We've even created a puzzle game that transforms the tower into a dynamic' playground, 'inviting participants to discover China's time-based cultural heritage."
Not only the Bell and Drum Towers, but also new scenes and Spaces are spreading along the urban axis. The Beijing central axis is accompanying the city on its way to a better future.
Source：<https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/k0sGbOqzqEpGXkHGfJB-8Q>
Translated & Edited by Jin He
Copyright @ 2014 Urban Planning Society of China
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