The Beijing Central Axis took center stage at the 2024 Beijing Culture Forum as a prime example of how digital technology can breathe new life into cultural heritage. The forum, themed “Deepening Cultural Exchange to Achieve Common Progress,” concluded on September 21, bringing together over 800 guests from China and abroad.
With a history spanning over 700 years, the Beijing Central Axis embodies the city’s rich civilization and serves as a living memory of its past. Stretching 7.8 kilometers from Yongding Gate in the south to the Bell and Drum Towers in the north, this ancient thoroughfare was meticulously constructed based on traditional architectural philosophies to create the ideal layout for a capital city. In July, it earned the prestigious designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
During the forum, discussions centered on the heritage value of the Central Axis and innovative preservation efforts. “Cultural heritage preservation requires both reverence for history and a spirit of innovation,” stated Sun Xinjun, Party secretary of Beijing’s Dongcheng District. “The cultural essence of heritage sites should be integrated into everyday life, enhancing the public’s spiritual well-being.”
In recent years, Beijing has introduced dynamic ways for the public to engage with its historical legacy. From the digital bell at the Bell and Drum Towers, which uses light and shadow to capture the passage of time, to contemporary interpretations of traditional opera in Qianmen Street, these immersive experiences allow people to connect with cultural heritage on a deeper level.
The integration of digital technology has opened new perspectives on urban heritage. “The Beijing Central Axis demonstrates the lasting vitality of traditional urban planning,” remarked Jad Tabet, president of the Association of Architects and Engineers of Arab Countries. “Urban heritage protection policies must consider the dynamic evolution of cities in response to changing needs.”
Forum participants agreed that digitization is an effective way to revitalize cultural heritage. Leveraging its status as a global leader in the digital economy, Beijing is applying technologies like artificial intelligence and digital twins to enhance the preservation of the Central Axis.
Chinese tech giant Tencent has recreated the core heritage area of the Central Axis through a digital microcosm encompassing approximately 300,000 plants and 2.2 million buildings. Via a mobile mini-program called “Digital Central Axis,” users can embark on an immersive journey guided by virtual characters.
The mini-program also serves as a platform for the “Digital Watchman” project, an innovative crowdsourced conservation initiative launched in December 2023. By scanning QR codes, taking photos, and uploading inspection reports, residents and visitors can become citizen stewards, helping to log signs of deterioration or damage.
“The rapid development of digital technology has brought new opportunities for cultural inheritance,” said Chen Juhong, vice president of Tencent. “Our ‘Digital Central Axis’ project has played a key role in Beijing’s application for World Heritage status, with digitization becoming an essential innovation and hallmark of the application.”
Emphasizing the global potential of these efforts, Roman Jeannaeu, chairman of the organizing committee of the Sunny Side of the Doc, noted, “Audiovisual media are a powerful means of promoting cultural heritage. China’s vast and diverse cultural heritage holds tremendous potential for global exposure. We hope to see more international documentaries focusing on the Beijing Central Axis in the years to come.”
Reference(s):
Beijing advances central axis protection through digital technology
cgtn.com
