STORY: The "backbone" of Beijing
DATELINE: June 21, 2023
LENGTH: 00:05:58
LOCATION: Beijing
CATEGORY: CULTURE/SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Beijing
2. STANDUP 1 (Chinese): LIU CHANG, Xinhua correspondent
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): LYU ZHOU, Director, National Heritage Center of Tsinghua University
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): LYU ZHOU, Director, National Heritage Center of Tsinghua University
5. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): LYU ZHOU, Director, National Heritage Center of Tsinghua University
6. SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): LYU ZHOU, Director, National Heritage Center of Tsinghua University
7. SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): LYU ZHOU, Director, National Heritage Center of Tsinghua University
8. STANDUP 2 (Chinese): LIU CHANG, Xinhua correspondent
9. SOUNDBITE 6 (Chinese): LYU ZHOU, Director, National Heritage Center of Tsinghua University
10. STANDUP 3 (Chinese): LIU CHANG, Xinhua correspondent
11. SOUNDBITE 7 (Chinese): LYU ZHOU, Director, National Heritage Center of Tsinghua University
12. STANDUP 4 (Chinese): LIU CHANG, Xinhua correspondent
13. SOUNDBITE 8 (Chinese): LYU ZHOU, Director, National Heritage Center of Tsinghua University
14. STANDUP 5 (Chinese): LIU CHANG, Xinhua correspondent
15. SOUNDBITE 9 (Chinese): LYU ZHOU, Director, National Heritage Center of Tsinghua University
16. SOUNDBITE 10 (Chinese): LYU ZHOU, Director, National Heritage Center of Tsinghua University
17. STANDUP 6 (Chinese): LIU CHANG, Xinhua correspondent
18. SOUNDBITE 11 (Chinese): LYU ZHOU, Director, National Heritage Center of Tsinghua University
19. STANDUP 7 (Chinese): LIU CHANG, Xinhua correspondent

STORYLINE:

What comes to your mind when you think of Beijing? In fact, these ancient buildings marking Beijing's urban culture are all situated along one line: the Beijing Central Axis.

The regulations for the protection of the Beijing Central Axis cultural heritage came into effect on Oct. 1, 2022. What are the stories behind the heritages along the central axis? And what historical significance do they embody? Today we'll talk with professor Lyu Zhou, director of the National Heritage Center of Tsinghua University.

STANDUP 1 (Chinese): LIU CHANG, Xinhua correspondent
"Professor Lyu, what kind of line is the central axis?"

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): LYU ZHOU, Director, National Heritage Center of Tsinghua University
"The Beijing Central Axis reflects the pursuit of order in the Chinese civilization. The views, etiquettes, and social orders formed during the history of social development are embodied in the central axis. It went through an extremely rigorous planning process. Today we regard the Drum and Bell Towers as its north end."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): LYU ZHOU, Director, National Heritage Center of Tsinghua University
"Messages of time were delivered to the entire city by striking the bell and beating the drums. This was also an important public management center of the city. Here, the sounds of the bell and drums indicated the different time of the day. They informed people of when to close their doors at night, when to open the market the next morning, and when to open the city gate and let outsiders in."

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): LYU ZHOU, Director, National Heritage Center of Tsinghua University
"On such a 7.8-kilometer axis, there are also places that were used for important ritual ceremonies such as national sacrifices."

The Temple of Agriculture is an ancient complex where emperors in the Ming and Qing dynasties worshiped Shennong (Celestial Farmer) and performed tilling rituals.

SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): LYU ZHOU, Director, National Heritage Center of Tsinghua University
"(In ancient times) China used to be an agricultural society, so things related to farming were a priority for the country. This showed the country's commitment to agriculture, as well as agriculture's pivotal role in the country's development."

SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): LYU ZHOU, Director, National Heritage Center of Tsinghua University
"This is the Xiannong Altar."

STANDUP 2 (Chinese): LIU CHANG, Xinhua correspondent
"So the emperors performed sacrifices here?"

SOUNDBITE 6 (Chinese): LYU ZHOU, Director, National Heritage Center of Tsinghua University
"Yes. After the altar was prepared, the emperor would visit this place to conduct sacred rituals and make sacrificial offerings."

After the sacrifice, the emperor would dress up in farming clothes and perform tilling rituals.
 
STANDUP 3 (Chinese): LIU CHANG, Xinhua correspondent
"Is that the farmland of ancient emperors?"

SOUNDBITE 7 (Chinese): LYU ZHOU, Director, National Heritage Center of Tsinghua University
"Yeah. In the former agricultural society, every farmer was allocated a plot of field for farming. And this was the emperor's share."

STANDUP 4 (Chinese): LIU CHANG, Xinhua correspondent
"How did the emperors farm the land? What's the ritual like?"

SOUNDBITE 8 (Chinese): LYU ZHOU, Director, National Heritage Center of Tsinghua University
"He would hold the plow, and go from one end to the other, and back again. That's a round. He would go three rounds. After this ceremony, the country would enter the spring farming season."
So we say that the Beijing Central Axis used to be an embodiment of the nation's etiquette. Why were sacrificial rituals needed? They were performed to worship for peace and prosperity."

STANDUP 5 (Chinese): LIU CHANG, Xinhua correspondent
"Could you give us some other examples of iconic buildings of different dynasties on this axis?"

SOUNDBITE 9 (Chinese): LYU ZHOU, Director, National Heritage Center of Tsinghua University
"(On the Central Axis) the Wanning Bridge is the only relic from the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). The Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihedian) and the Gate of Supreme Harmony (Taihemen) in the Palace Museum are both from the Qing Dynasty. One feature of the central axis of Beijing is that it isn't a thing of the past, or something of a specific era. It's continuous. As we say, it seems to have life. It continues to 'live' with history."

Boasting a history of more than 700 years, the Wanning Bridge is the oldest bridge on the Beijing Central Axis. It's located on the Yu River section of the Grand Canal, and had played a significant role in north-south transportation. Even today, the Wanning Bridge still stands as a witness to the vibrant rhythm of life.

SOUNDBITE 10 (Chinese): LYU ZHOU, Director, National Heritage Center of Tsinghua University
"It's intricately woven into the fabric of life in present-day Beijing."

STANDUP 6 (Chinese): LIU CHANG, Xinhua correspondent
"And we can still see the lingering traces of history."

SOUNDBITE 11 (Chinese): LYU ZHOU, Director, National Heritage Center of Tsinghua University
"Yes. This heritage is a shared legacy that belongs to each and every one of us. It easily instills within us a sense of cultural identity, evoking pride in our culture, and fostering a genuine desire to actively contribute to the construction and development of this city."

As Beijing steps up efforts to protect its cultural heritages, the Beijing Central Axis is also being revitalized.

STANDUP 7 (Chinese): LIU CHANG, Xinhua correspondent
"Look how busy the street is."

The central axis, which has borne witness to the long-standing history of the ancient capital, is now regaining its glamour and popularity.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beijing.
(XHTV)