Axis becomes center of attention

A map of the 15 key structures along the axis. BEIJING MUNICIPAL OFFICE FOR CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF BEIJING CENTRAL AXIS/CHINA DAILY

Luo says he will continue to explore various methods, such as immersive study tours, to enhance young people's understanding of traditional culture and guide them to establish a commitment to protecting historical cultural heritage.

Ma Zhentao, a commentator with China Tourism News, proposes more efforts for the whole cultural heritage and environmental protection with a focus on optimizing the axis management mechanism, improving residents' livelihoods and exploring a new coordinated cultural heritage protection and modern urban development model.

Ma advocates the use of AI and big data in axis protection, such as intelligent analysis to predict the risk of erosion in ancient buildings to formulate repair plans in advance, and big data to analyze tourist behavior and optimize tour routes and management measures.

VR and other technologies can be employed to create high-precision digital records of important buildings and sites along the Beijing Central Axis, Ma says.

He also urges related parties to establish detailed digital archives to provide strong support for future repairs, research and exhibitions and to create a digital museum or online display platform for the Beijing Central Axis, allowing the public to learn about its history and culture with more convenience.

Having worked in inbound tourism for many years, tour guide Dou Junjie says he has deeply felt the recent heat of international travelers' enthusiasm toward the central axis.

He has offered several cultural tours to the central axis over the past few weeks.

"These tours are giving an increasingly three-dimensional, rich and colorful understanding of the capital's cultural connotations," Dou says.

He believes that 70 percent of a good tour is about comprehensive guidance and explanation and 30 percent about travel.

He says he has kept a constantly updated historical and cultural database of the Beijing Central Axis, which includes over 140 knowledge points and more than 80,000 words. This encompasses famous ancient sites, historical and cultural information and the intangible cultural heritage of Beijing, such as traditional crafts.

"I'm looking forward to taking more people, especially international travelers, on the cultural exploration of the central axis to help them better appreciate its essence," Dou says.

Contact the writer at yangfeiyue@chinadaily.com.cn