The 7.8-km Central Axis of Beijing dates back to the planning and design of the Dadu, capital of the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368).
Reporters from China International Communications Group participated in a tour of Beijing on September 8. They rode electric bicycles starting from Yongdingmen, or the Gate of Perpetual Peace, which is the southern starting point of the city's Central Axis. After traveling through the streets and alleyways on the western side of the axis, they finally arrived at Zhengyangmen, also known as Qianmen Gate, which is situated to the south of Tiananmen Square.
The central axis is now one step closer to becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site as it will be part of China's 2024 application project, the government authority overseeing the application announced in early August.
(Text and photos by Wei Yao)
