Modern digital technologies are being utilized to revitalize the Beijing Central Axis, aiming to better protect and preserve the history and culture of the city's core area.
The Beijing Central Axis has been added to the United Nations' cultural heritage list, signifying prestigious recognition for the 700-year-old line of historical and cultural landmarks traversing the heart of the Chinese capital.
The Beijing Central Axis spans 7.8 kilometers, starting from the Yongding Gate in the south of the capital and ending at the Drum Tower and Bell Tower in the north.
It is a line that showcases the beauty of Beijing, representing China's ideal capital layout and configuration, and has remained uninterrupted for centuries.
"The 'Digital Central Axis' project team has created a vivid virtual scene to help people both at home and abroad understand and appreciate the Beijing Central Axis. This effort aims to revitalize and publicize this world cultural heritage worldwide.
The team's web version of the 'Time and Space Capsule' is a key component of the 'Digital Central Axis.' It reproduces the historical evolution of the Beijing Central Axis in 4D, showcasing its continuity and changes over the past 700 years.
"When users enter the 'time capsule,' they can first fly over the Central Axis to view the landscape of the Beijing Central Axis. They can see how the 15 heritage sites have developed and changed from the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) to the present. Users are actually traveling through time and space to truly experience the entire Central Axis, as it is developing, changing, and keeping pace with the times," explained Li Chaoqun, the product manager of the "Digital Central Axis" Project.
The 'Digital Central Axis' not only offers tourists visiting the heritage sites a rich audio and video experience to deeply understand their history but also allows those who cannot visit in person to experience the charm of this grand architectural marvel from the comfort of their homes.
"With the 'Digital Central Axis,' people can see in real-time what the physical state of Beijing's Central Axis looks like and what changes it has undergone in different historical stages. In this way, an immersive presentation can help the user better understand and feel the overall culture and historical atmosphere of the Central Axis," said Li.
While enhancing the user experience, the 'Digital Central Axis' also prioritizes the authority and accuracy of its information. The total data volume of the 'Digital Central Axis' has reached 15 terabytes.
The WeChat applet 'Cloud Central Axis' is also available to the public, offering a digitally interactive game set in the Central Axis. As of July 15, more than 800,000 users have registered, and the app has received over 4.5 million visits.
In addition, the Beijing Central Axis Heritage Protection Center uses digital tools for real-time monitoring of the Central Axis, ensuring the safety of the cultural relics and the surrounding environment of the 15 heritage sites.
"Monitoring methods include satellite monitoring, such as this remote sensing map, and environment monitoring. We will also install some monitoring equipment on the ancient buildings to measure whether the foundation of the cultural relics is sinking or vibrating. These scientific monitoring data uploaded on the monitoring platform provide an effective scientific basis and technical support for subsequent protection work," said Zhou Ziyu, an official of the Beijing Central Axis Heritage Protection Center.
Various offline activities are also available to the public in Beijing, recreating the past and present of the Beijing Central Axis. These experiences allow users to enter its virtual world through VR equipment, exploring the beauty of Chinese wisdom and philosophy.
Digital tools bring Beijing Central Axis to life
