Past & present in dialogue

Running 7.8 kilometers from Yongding Gate in the south to the Drum and Bell Towers in the north, the Central Axis forms the architectural spine of Beijing, China's historic capital. Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2024, the line of imperial palaces, ceremonial gates and temples has long symbolized the city's political and cosmological order.

The axis also remains a living corridor of urban memory. Today, on both its eastern and western flanks, historical districts are reimagining how centuries-old neighborhoods can coexist with contemporary life.

Standing atop the arrow tower of Zhengyang Gate and looking west, rows of gray-brick buildings stretch toward the horizon. This is Dashilar, one of Beijing's oldest commercial districts, where narrow hutong lanes and traditional storefronts have thrived for centuries.

At its heart lies Beijing Fun, a cultural-commercial complex designed to bridge the city's past and present.

"We prefer to think of ourselves as a 'dialogue partner,'" says Liu Jianwei, deputy general manager of Beijing Guangan Commercial Management Co, the complex's operator, describing the relationship between Beijing Fun and the Central Axis.

"The area boasts deep history, hutong culture, and strong commercial heritage."

The most visible evidence of this dialogue between old and new lies inside the area's shops. According to the project's operators, more than 40 percent of Beijing Fun's tenants are first-time stores or flagship outlets at the global, national or local level.