Beijing Central Axis

Beijing Central Axis
Photo by Zoë Sheng.

Beijing Central Axis: A Building Ensemble Exhibiting the Ideal Order of the Chinese Capital showcases urban planning along Confucian ideas.

The design is based on a symmetrical north-south axis with a ‘centre’. The Axis is 7.8 kilometres long and stretches from the Bell and Drum Towers to the Yongdingmen Gate, with 15 major landmarks along the way such as the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and Tian'anmen Square.

Community Perspective: Reviewers wonder why this needed to be a separate inscription, as parts have been inscribed as other WHS also. Kyle has highlighted the additional parts.

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Kyle Magnuson

California - United States of America - 30-Jul-24 -

Beijing Central Axis by Kyle Magnuson

With the Beijing Central Axis joining the World Heritage List, I want to focus on what is newly inscribed. Therefore, in this review I will not include any information about the Old Beijing City Section of Tonghui Canal, the Forbidden City, or the Temple of Heaven. Additionally, I will not focus on sites within the boundaries (primarily after 1949) which do not contribute to the OUV. The Imperial Palace boundary is the moat, therefore plenty of buildings associated with or adjacent to the Forbidden City were previously not inscribed.

From North to South

  • Bell Tower - 47.9 meters high, includes a 63 metric ton bell called 'King of the Bells' which was cast in the early 1400's
  • Drum Tower - 46.7 meters high, originally included 25 drums though all were lost, the building was rebuilt in the year 1800
  • Wanning Bridge - oldest bridge of the Beijing Central Axis, 13th Century Yuan Dynasty, a rare Beijing site predating the Ming Dynasty
  • Jingshan Hill - tallest point on the axis and a key viewpoint, includes Chinese Garden landscape with 1,000 year old trees
  • Altar of Land and Grain - an important part of the 'ideal capital of a Chinese city', the Altar of Land and Grain must be on the LEFT
  • Imperial Ancestral Temple - an important part of the 'ideal capital of a Chinese city', the Ancestral Temple Grain must be on the RIGHT
  • Upright Gate - part of the entrance to the Forbidden City, used for storage for ritual processions when the Emperor left the Imperial Palace
  • Tiananmen Gate - the main front gate of the Imperial City and the location of the founding ceremony of the People's Republic of China
  • Outer Jinshui Bridges - 5 marble bridges, the center was exclusively used by the Emperor, paralleled by two Huabiao ceremonial columns
  • Tiananmen Square Complex - symmetrical large open space aligned to the central axis, dramatically altered since 1949
  • Zhengyangmen Gate & Archery Tower - another key viewpoint of the axis, also the start of the Imperial Road
  • Altar of the God of Agriculture - Xiannongtan or Temple of Agriculture is symmetrically facing the Temple of Heaven
  • Southern Section Road Archeological Sites - road foundations and ancient ditches of the original Imperial Road
  • Yongdingmen Gate - a historical reconstruction that marks the Southern terminus of the Beijing Central Axis

Having visited Beijing twice, I covered the axis fairly well and was certainly aware of it having taken a University course on Urban China. The course examined the transformation of Beijing from the end of the dynastic period in 1911 to the End of the Cultural Revolution and the opening of the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall in 1977. The major text was 'Remaking Beijing: Tiananmen Square and the Creation of a Political Space', which certainly provided insight into the changes and symbolism of the Axis during the 20th century. All of this contributed to my annoyance that China made such an effort to erase the wording by ICOMOS that clearly stated the Tiananmen Square Complex did not contribute to the sites OUV. 

The Bell Tower is perhaps the most impressive single structure on the Beijing Central Axis not previously inscribed. The Bell Tower you see today is mostly from a rebuilding effort that took place during the 10th year of the reign of Emperor Qianlong (1745). The height of the structure, the massive bell, and the inevitable stairs remain memorable for me.

As you exit the Forbidden City from the North you are welcomed by a pleasant green space known as Jingshan Hill. If you take the stairs to the main pavilion you will be rewarded with a fantastic view of the Imperial Palace, the Central Axis looking North toward the Bell and Drum Towers, and to the West, Behai Park (part of the Central Axis buffer zone).

A notable feature next to the Outer Jinshui Bridges are the Huabiao ceremonial columns. Featuring mythical animals, including a coiled dragon and a 'denglong' on the top, which symbolizes 'the sending the will of heaven to humans'.

The zero kilometer marker for highways in China is located just outside Zhengyangmen Gate. The gate is more useful for visitors for its view of the axis rather than its own historical value (largely a reconstruction though not completely).

On a return visit to Beijing I would focus on Xiannongtan (Temple of Agriculture), which stands out as one of the most significant components of the Beijing Central Axis.

Read more from Kyle Magnuson here.

Zoë Sheng

Chinese-Canadian - 25-May-24 -

Beijing Central Axis by Zoë Sheng

I definitely like this nomination but it needs to be limited to only important areas. I used this picture (public domain) because it shows 100 years ago Tiananmen Square was an important place and unfortunately the modern student protests including a car terrorist attack in 2013 make us feel the place isn't right for UNESCO. It was also massively renovated with the people's hall, Mao's mausoleum (which used to be the Gate of China area), the museum, none of these should be listed as world heritage. This is only the square, with the other locations usually the same: important, old, but renovated and improved. My picture of Qianmen above (not actually public domain) shows a modern shopping street. It used to be different, even a brothel at a time, but it would only get nominated as the modern look.

If you haven't seen the axis it would surprise me because they even want to add the Temple of Heaven and the Tiananmem Square is hard to miss, you'll probably run into one of the old gates or Beihai park. Like I said I can't see this not getting inscribed but it will cause a lot of problems if not limited to just the old gates.

Vincent Cheung

Hong Kong, China - 11-Dec-22 -

While Beijing is a great old city rich of cultural heritages, I find it hard to understand why the Central Axis can be nominated as a new World Heritage item.

The nomination contains these sites:  Yongding Gate, Temple of Heaven, Temple of Agriculture, Tian'anmen Square complex, Imperial Ancestral Temple, Altar of the Land and Grain, the Forbidden City, Jingshan Hill, Bell Tower, Drum Tower, Nanluoguxiang, Yandai Bystreet historic area, and the Beihai water system.

The Forbidden City is already listed as World Heritage (Imperial Palaces); Temple of Heaven is also listed as an independent item; Beihai water system is part of The Grand Canal.  We don’t need to give them another world heritage honor to emphasize their importance.

Imperial Ancestral Temple, Altar of the Land and Grain are royal temples connected to the Forbidden City,  and similarly Jingshan Hill is also a royal garden connected to the Forbidden City.   They all can be an extension of Imperial Palaces.

Temple of Agriculture is near by Temple of Heaven at the south, and they are for the same purpose basically:  Praying to the Sky (Heaven, same word in Chinese) for good weather in order to have good harvest (Agriculture).  Thus Temple of Agriculture is better to be an extension of Temple of Heaven.

The government demolished Beijing City Wall and only left behind a few gates.  While Yongding Gate is great, does it still have sufficient OUV?  At least Xi’an and Nanjing have the whole city walls and gates conserved.

Bell Tower and Drum Tower exist in all Chinese old cities.  Nothing special with the ones in Beijing.  Nanluoguxiang and Yandai Bystreet historic area are now touristic places with full of tacky bars and shops.

What left in the list is Tian'anmen Square complex… Oh, right, isn’t it great to have Tian’anmen Square, Great Hall of the People, Monument to the People’s Heroes, and Mausoleum of Mao Zedong all these political icons to be listed as World Heritages?  A great propaganda to her people!

Let’s see if UNESCO will help the Chinese Communist Party to get this task done.

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Site Info

Full Name
Beijing Central Axis: A Building Ensemble Exhibiting the Ideal Order of the Chinese Capital
Unesco ID
1714
Country
China
Inscribed
2024
Type
Cultural
Criteria
3 6
Categories
Urban landscape - Asian
Link
By ID

Site History

2024 Inscribed

2020 Upstream Process

2013 Revision

Includes former TWHS Beihai Park (1996)

Site Links

Unesco Website
Beijing Central Axis: A Building Ensemble Exhibiting the Ideal Order of the Chinese Capital
Official Website

Beijing Central Axis

Locations

The site has 1 locations

Beijing Central Axis

Connections

The site has

Art and Architecture
Glazed tiles: "Jufu Hall, one of the major buildings at the site, possesses a multi-colored façade and a broad roof lined with glazed tile"
Chinese Garden: Jingshan Hill "The Jingshan Hill is the tallest point and a key skyline node on the 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." - Nomination File
Constructions
Zero Mile or Kilometer Markers: "The kilometre zero point for highways is at Tiananmen Square, just outside the Zhengyangmen Gate. It is marked with a plaque in the ground, with the four cardinal points, four animals, and "Zero Point of Highways, China" in English and Chinese." - Wiki
Mausolea: Mao Zedong (1893 - 1976)
Large squares: Tiananmen Square 215,000 m2
Notable Bridges: The Axis run from the central platform, crossing the Wanning Bridge and the Houzaihongmen Gate, which corresponded to the north gate of the imperial city." - AB Evaluation "Wanning Bridge, located in Di'anmenwai Street, Xicheng District, was built in the 22nd year of the Zhiyuan Period of the Yuan Dynasty (1285 AD). The stone bridge from the Yuan Dynasty strides over the estuary where Shichahai's water flows into the Yu River, and was the starting point of the Grand Canal in the Yuan Dynasty. A World Cultural Heritage sign for the Grand Canal stands next to the bridge." - Wanning Bridge
Freestanding Bell Tower: "The Bell and Drum Towers regulated the opening and closing of gates and other daily activities of citizens." - AB Evaluation
Monumental Columns: There's a huabiao in front of the Tiananmen in Beijing. Huabiao is a type of ceremonial column used in traditional Chinese architecture. - Wiki
Famous Bells: King of Ancient Bells, located in the Bell Tower "Inside the tower is a bronze bell weighing 63 metric tons and measuring 5.5 meters tall. Cast during the Yongle reign (1403-1424) of the Ming Dynasty, the bell is hung from an octagonal frame." - Nomination File "The bronze bell hanging on the second floor of the Bell Tower, inscribed with "Made in the Yongle Reign of Ming Dynasty" and weighing 63 tons, is known as the "King of Ancient Bells" in China." - Beijing Tourism
Canals: "The Wanning Bridge has been vital for north-south traffic since its construction in the Yuan Dynasty. It is an important bridge connecting the city's north-south traffic, and the inter-section between the Yuhe River and the Schichahai Lake area, where the Beijing Central Axis joins the Grand Canal." - Nomination File
Sites of Parliament: Great Hall of the People: " It is used for legislative and ceremonial activities by the government of the People's Republic of China and the ruling Chinese Communist Party. The People's Great Hall functions as the meeting place for the full sessions of the National People's Congress, the Chinese legislature..." (wiki)
Geography
Linear inscriptions
Located in a Capital City: Beijing (Capital of China)
History
Contains significant structures from the 20th Century: The most extensive urban intervention was the total remodelling and expansion of Tian'anmen Square which was finalised in 1977. In this period, the Monument to the People's Heroes (1952-1958), the National Museum of China (1958-1959), the Great Hall of the People (1958-1959), and the Chairman Mao Memorial (1976) were built. To accommodate the growing city traffic, the Zhengyangmen Gate and surrounding areas were renovated in 1914-1915 and the Yongdingmen Gate and surrounding areas were demolished and renovated in the 1950s." - AB Evaluation
Inscribed in connection with an anniversary: Just in time for the 75th Anniversary since the Proclamation of the People's Republic of China on October 1st, 1949 in Tiananmen Square. [1949 / 2024]
Contains significant structures from the 21st Century: Yongdingmen Gate Tower (2005) "The Yongdingmen Gate Tower and Archery Tower were demolished in 1957 to relieve traffic pressure. Yongdinmen Gate's reconstruction project started in 2004 and was completed in the following year. The reconstruction work was strictly based on the archaeological findings and research results from the historical records." - Nomination File
Human Activity
Communism: The most extensive urban intervention was the total remodelling and expansion of Tian'anmen Square which was finalised in 1977. In this period, the Monument to the People's Heroes (1952-1958), the National Museum of China (1958- 1959), the Great Hall of the People (1958-1959), and the Chairman Mao Memorial (1976) were built." - AB Evaluation
Individual People
Marco Polo: ICOMOS ackowledges the 'Travels of Marco Polo' can be considered a 'valuable source of information' in relation to the nominated property, but not enough for 'global significance'. "ICOMOS notes that while the Travels of Marco Polo is an important literary work, it is not solely associated with the nominated property and its timeframe corresponds only to the initial phase of the Axis during the Yuan Dynasty and not to the Ming Dynasty when its major development took place. The nomination dossier mentions that the book describes in detail the layout of the nominated property when it was established as Dadu, and ICOMOS considers that as such, it can be used as a valuable source of information, but the association does not itself demonstrate outstanding global significance." - AB Evaluation
Mao was here: Mao is here (Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, Tiananmen Square)
Jean-Michel Jarre: In 2004, Jarre opens the "Year of France in China" with a concert in the Forbidden City and on Tiananmen Square. (Wikipedia)
Religion and Belief
Confucianism: "The Tilling Ritual and other agricultural ceremonies were first outlined by Confucius in the Li Ji, or Book of Rites, and they endured at Xiannongtan for centuries."
Timeline
Built in the 13th century: The Central Axis originated in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) (AB ev)
Trivia
WHS within walking distance: Imperial Palace (1987), Temple of Heaven (1998), Grand Canal (2014) *Wanning Bridge (Old Beijing City Section of Tonghui Canal)
Dragon: "Inside (Jufu Hall), the wooden beams are adorned with lacquered images of imperial golden dragons."
Olympic Venues: the men's marathon in Beijing in 2008 started in Tiananmen Square
WHS Hotspots
Beijing hotspot
WHS on Other Lists
World Monuments Watch (past): Xiannongtan (Temple of Agriculture) 1998, 2000
World Heritage Process
Exact locations inscribed twice (or more): 3 times: Imperial Palace of Beijing, Temple of Heaven, Grand Canal (a section – Wanning Bridge – of the Old Beijing City Section of Tonghui Canal)
Reconstruction regarded as unsatisfactory by UNESCO or ICOMOS: "ICOMOS notes two elements of concern in relation to authenticity. The first relates to the remodelling and extension of Tian'anmen Square Complex during the 20th century. The second concern refers to the reconstruction of the Yongdingmen Gate in 2005 after its demolition in 1957. ICOMOS considers that the authenticity of the Tian'anmen Square Complex and the Yongdingmen Gate has been compromised." - AB Evaluation

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