by Xinhua writers Liu Xin Womens Jordan Hicks Jersey , Kong Xiangxin

BEIJING, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- The north-south axis of China'sancient capital has been extended and revitalized.

On Sept. 29, Beijing authorities unveiled a general plan for thedevelopment of the central axis, called the Zhongzhouxian, from2016 to 2035. It aims to protect the city's history andculture.

The plan said the Zhongzhouxian is both historical anddeveloping, and preservation work should be coordinated withupgrades.

First created in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) Womens Nelson Agholor Jersey , the originalZhongzhouxian was 3.7 kilometers. The Ming (1368-1644) and Qing(1644-1911) dynasties extended the length to 7.8 kilometers fromYongdingmen in the south to the Drum and Bell Towers in thenorth.

Chinese architect Liang Sicheng, a pioneer of heritagepreservation, described the Zhongzhouxian as possibly the world'slongest and greatest north-south central axis.

"The unique beauty of Beijing's design is due to theZhongzhouxian," declared Liang.

The axis was extended again in 2003 as the city prepared for the2008 Olympic Games.

The general plan states that the current Zhongzhouxian extensionstretches to the Yanshan Mountain Range to the north and Beijing'snew international airport in the south.

The Olympic Green is considered one of the most important areasalong the Zhongzhouxian extension.

Zhao Jin, operations director of Beijing Inno-Olympic Group Co.,Ltd. Womens Mack Hollins Jersey , which is leading the Olympic Green property management, saysthe China Intangible Cultural Heritage Hall and the National ArtMuseum of China will be built along the Zhongzhouxianextension.

"Together with the Bird's Nest, Water Cube, and China NationalConvention Center, the north extension is expected to be a nationalhub for culture, sports Womens Donnel Pumphrey Jersey , technology and finance," he said.

The Olympic Green received a total of 410 million people,including tourists and visitors, from 2008 to 2016, according toZhao.

The extension is not separated from the original axis. On aclear day, from the top of Yangshan Mountain in Olympic Park Womens Rasul Douglas Jersey , it ispossible to see 8 km south to Jingshan, the highest point on theoriginal Zhongzhouxian.

The Zhongzhouxian, situated at the city's center, separates thedistricts of Dongcheng and Xicheng.

"It is like the backbone of Beijing's urban spacial structure,"said Beijing historian Li Jianping.

Along it are the historic buildings of Qianmen, the ForbiddenCity Womens Sidney Jones Jersey , Jingshan Park, and the Drum and Bell Towers.

Political monuments such as Chairman Mao Zedong Memorial Hall,the Monument to the People's Heroes and Tian'anmen Square line upalong the axis.

"This reflects the Chinese idea of 'center worship,'" saidLi.

The symmetry is maintained along the Zhongzhouxian. The GreatHall of the People and Beijing Zhongshan Park are on the west side,while the National Museum of China and Beijing Working People'sCultural Palace are on the east.

Beijing Zhongshan Park used to be the Hall of Worshipping theAltar of Land and Grain, which was built in 1425. The BeijingWorking People's Cultural Palace was the royal ancestral templebefore the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.

In 1949 Womens Derek Barnett Jersey , a founding ceremony was held in Tian'anmen Square,transforming it into a place for the people rather thanroyalty.

The construction of the Bird's Nest and the Water Cube on eachside of the Zhongzhouxian north extension reflects the symmetryfound along older parts of the axis.

"Beijing has been built according to a 'checker-board' planningsystem since the Yuan Dynasty," explained Wang Shiren of the city'shistory and culture preservation committee. "Meanwhile, manycapitals of other countries had 'divergent' structures influencedby the Renaissance."

The Beijing Municipal government officially kicked off acampaign in 2011 to place main historic sites along the city'scentral north-south axis on the world cultural heritage list.

Wang says the Zhongzhouxian used to have 42 historic sites, and36 of them have been preserved or rebuilt.

But there have also been criticisms of excessive renovationalong the axis. Its original south end at Yongdingmen Tower wasrebuilt in 2004.

Feng Feifei, director of the Urban Design Department of BeijingMunicipal Institute of City Planning and Design Authentic Carson Wentz Jersey , said the city wentthrough different historical periods in which different things werevalued.

"The urban functions also differed," she said.

For this reason, a number of historical influences are visiblealong the axis, including the culture of old Beijing on the sectionbetween Yongdingmen and Qianmen, the culture of New China betweenMao Zedong Memorial Hall and Tian'anmen, and the imperial cultureof the Ming and Qing dynasties from Duanmen to Jingshan Park Authentic Isaac Seumalo Jersey , LiJianping said.

The city aims to make progress in becoming a top internationalcapital over the next five years, according to the city's newdevelopment goals unveiled in June.

The capital is striving to improve as the country's political,cultural, international and innovation center.

"A long history means a rich cultural heritage," Feng said.Enditem (Ji Xiang and Zhang Lili contributed to the story.)

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