People walk on the Wanning Bridge in Beijing, capital of China, July 18, 2023.
First created in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), the Beijing Central Axis, or Zhongzhouxian, stretches 7.8 kilometers between the Yongding Gate in the south of the city and the Drum Tower and Bell Tower in the north. Most of the major old-city buildings of Beijing sit along this axis.
Gates, palaces, temples, squares and gardens of the old city are all linked up to the axis. As they witnessed the folk activities along the line from old days to new ones, they themselves are a joy to behold at all times. (Xinhua/Luo Xiaoguang)