Eight civilization marvels to be explored

Beijing ranks highest among Chinese cities by number of World Heritage Sites, with the city's Central Axis the latest to make the UNESCO World Heritage List in late July.

Currently, the city is home to eight World Heritage Sites, whose preservation and promotion are of significance to Beijing's development, experts said.

The city has established and improved institutions for the protection and management of World Heritage Sites, promoting their scientific protection and effective supervision, especially in such areas as technological research, exhibition and education, as well as social and public outreach, said an official from the Beijing Cultural Heritage Bureau.

・ Beijing Central Axis

As a masterpiece of the ideal urban spatial order of China, the Beijing Central Axis was initially established in the 13th century and took shape in the 16th century. It runs through the heart of Beijing, spanning 7.8 kilometers from the Bell and Drum Towers in the north of the old city to the Yongding Gate in the south, linking a string of iconic Beijing sites.

・ Great Wall

The Great Wall is a spiritual symbol of the Chinese nation and the largest and most wide-ranging cultural heritage in China. Its history can be traced back to the Western Zhou Dynasty (c. 11th century-771BC). After Emperor Qinshihuang, the founding emperor of the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC), unified the country, he had the walls from the Warring States Period (475-221 BC) connected and repaired. The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) was the last dynasty to construct the Great Wall on a large scale. According to a report released by the National Cultural Heritage Administration, Great Wall resources from various eras are distributed in 15 provincial-level regions. In Beijing, the Great Wall stretches from Pinggu district in the east, through Miyun, Huairou, Yanqing and Changping districts, to Mentougou district in the west. The Great Wall was inscribed on the World Heritage List in December 1987.

・ Forbidden City

Beijing's Forbidden City served as the imperial palace for 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. One of the world's largest and best-preserved wooden structures, the unparalleled architectural masterpiece is acclaimed as one of the world's top five palaces. Covering some 720,000 square meters, the palace buildings are all constructed with wood frames, yellow-glaze tiled roofs, and white marble bases. The Beijing Forbidden City was included in the World Heritage List in December 1987.

・ Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian

The Zhoukoudian Peking Man Site is located in Zhoukoudian town of Fangshan district, southwest of Beijing. It is one of the richest, most systematic and valuable human sites from the early Paleolithic era in the world. Discoveries there in the 1920s became an archaeological sensation that shocked the world. It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in December 1987.

・ Summer Palace

The Summer Palace, originally named Qingyi Garden or the Garden of Clear Ripples, was first built in 1750 and was burned down by the Anglo-French forces during the second Opium War in 1860. It was reconstructed in 1886, and two years later, was renamed the Summer Palace. Featuring Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake, the Summer Palace covers an area of 293 hectares, roughly three quarters of it covered by water. There are more than 3,000 ancient buildings totaling 70,000 square meters, as well as more than 1,600 ancient trees. It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in November 1998.

・ Temple of Heaven

The Temple of Heaven is where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties worshipped the God of Heaven. It was first built in 1420 and underwent continuous expansion and renovation until it was completed during the Qing Dynasty. Covering an area of 273 hectares, the Temple of Heaven joined the ranks of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in November 1998.

・ Ming Tombs

The Ming Tombs, located on Tianshou Mountain in Changping district of Beijing, is a grand complex of mausoleums for the 13 emperors of the Ming Dynasty. It is characterized by its grand scale, complete system and sound preservation. Covering an area of about 120 square kilometers, the Ming Tombs site was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in July 2003.

・ Grand Canal

The Grand Canal, which began construction in 486 BC, is the world's earliest canal. It is also the largest in scale and longest in route. Stretching from north to south, it connects five major water systems: the Haihe, Yellow, Huaihe, Yangtze and Qiantang rivers. Along its 2,700-km span, the waterway passes through 27 cities in eight provinces and municipalities. The canal was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in June 2014. In Beijing, the canal includes the Tonghui River sections in Xicheng, Dongcheng and Tongzhou districts, watercourses in the Shichahai area, and a former course of the Yuhe River from Wanning Bridge in the west to Dongbuya Bridge in the east.