What is the central axis?

The central axis of Beijing refers to the central axis of Beijing in Ming and Qing Dynasties. Beijing's urban planning is characterized by symmetry around Miyagi, and many buildings are built on the axis of symmetry, which is called the central axis. The central axis of Beijing starts from Yongdingmen in the south and ends at the Bell and Drum Tower in the north, with a length of about 7.8 kilometers. From south to north are Yongdingmen, Qianmen Arrow Tower, Zhengyangmen, Zhonghua Gate, Tiananmen Gate, Duanmen, Wumen Gate, Forbidden City, Shenwumen, Jingshan, Di 'anmen, Houmenqiao, Drum Tower and Bell Tower. Starting from Yongdingmen at the southern end of this central axis, there are Tiantan, Xiannongtan, Dongbianmen, Xibianmen, Chongwenmen, Xuanwu Gate, Ancestral Temple, Shetan, Donghuamen, Xihuamen, Dongzhimen, Xizhimen, Andingmen and Deshengmen, which are symmetrically distributed around the central axis. Mr. Liang Sicheng, a famous architect in China, once said: Beijing's unique grand order is produced by the establishment of this central axis. Yongdingmen Gate, Zhonghua Gate and Di 'anmen Gate were all demolished after the founding of the People's Republic of China, and Yongdingmen Gate Tower was rebuilt in recent years. People found stone rats in the mud of Houmenqiao and stone horses in the river near Qianmen. It is said that this is the symbol of Beijing's central axis (meridian).

This is one of the most outstanding urban design examples in the history of urban construction in the world. China architect Liang Sicheng once praised this central axis as "an eight-kilometer-long, longest and greatest north-south central axis running through the city.". Beijing's unique grand order is produced by the establishment of this central axis; The ups and downs, symmetrical figures or spatial distribution are all based on this central axis; The grandeur of the spirit lies in this north-south extension and consistent scale. "

The clear central axis of Beijing began in the Jin Dynasty, and an imperial road runs through Fengyimen in the outer city, Xuanyangmen in the imperial city and yingtianmen in Miyagi. In the Yuan Dynasty, the central axis was formally formed, located on the central line of the old Gulou Street and its extension line to the south, passing through the center of Miyagi on the east bank of Taiye Pool and reaching the main entrance of the outer city. The rulers of the Ming Dynasty moved the central axis of Beijing eastward by150m, and finally formed the present pattern.

The purpose of establishing the central axis is to emphasize the central position of feudal emperors, just as China's name means "the central country in the world". The overall layout of the city is centered on the central axis, with ancestral halls on the left and national altars on the right; The imperial court is in the front and the market is in the back, that is, "Zuo Zu You She" and "Qian Chao Hou Ye", so Beijing has become one of the most brilliant cities in the world in terms of urban layout.

The central axis of Beijing starts from Yongdingmen in the outer city in the south, passes through Zhengyang Gate, Zhonghua Gate, Tiananmen Gate, Duanmen, Wumen Gate and Taihe Gate in the inner city, passes through Taihe Hall, Zhonghe Hall, Baohe Hall, Gan Qing Palace, Kunning Palace and Shenwumen, and passes through Wanjing Pavilion, Shouhuang Hall and Drum Tower in the Long Live Mountain to reach the center of the bell tower. This central axis connects the outer city, the inner city, the imperial city and the Forbidden City. It is like the backbone of Beijing, which clearly highlights the status of Jiugong and embodies the feudal emperor's thought of "taking the lead in the world".

According to the traditional regulations of "Dragon Temple Society and Chongque Temple", various temple buildings are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the central axis. Tiantan, Xiannongtan, Dongbianmen, Xibianmen, Chongwenmen, Xuanwumen, Taimiao, Shejitan, Donghuamen, Xihuamen, Dongzhimen, Xizhimen, Andingmen and Deshengmen are symmetrically distributed with the central axis. All royal palaces, temples, government offices and other important buildings are attached to this central axis and combined together. These buildings are not only the symbol of the ancient capital Beijing, but also the symbol of China civilization.

After the founding of New China, Tiananmen Square, Monument to People's Heroes and Chairman Mao Memorial Hall were successively expanded on the central axis. Today, the Olympic Park is located on the northward extension of the central axis with the most cultural characteristics in Beijing, which is the concentrated embodiment of Beijing's "People's Olympics" and the continuation of the context of the ancient capital.