By GONG Qian

"Only the ancient Chinese civilization could give birth to such magical buildings," a YouTube user commented on a video about the Beijing Central Axis.

The Beijing Central Axis is now on UNESCO's World Heritage List, becoming China's 59th World Heritage Site.

It embodies the traditional Chinese philosophical concept of "Zhong", which means centrality, and "He", which denotes harmony.

So what is the Central Axis? It is a 700-year-old conceptual line that runs through the heart of Beijing, connecting the capital's historical and cultural landmarks and reflecting the ancient Chinese philosophy of balance and symmetry.

The Central Axis extends 7.8 kilometers. The landmarks along it include the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, and the Drum and Bell Towers.

As history marches forward, it continues to embrace both its traditional heritage and modern advancements.

The opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics traced the Central Axis with 29 gigantic "footprints" of fireworks, starting from Yongding Gate to the Bird's Nest stadium, the main stadium of the Summer Games.

The Beijing Central Axis made significant contributions to the history of urban planning worldwide. The UNESCO recognition highlights its timeless value and the efforts to preserve its splendor for generations to come.