Publications
From imperial order to urban wilds: spatial fractures and localized drivers of cultural ecosystem services along the Beijing central axis
A pronounced 'core-periphery' gradient in Cultural Ecosystem Services (CES) perception was identified along the 80-km Beijing Central Axis, with the historic core contributing 33% of total CES intensity while the Southern Extension accounted for just 4%, revealing a significant perceptual fracture. The study utilized crowdsourced geotagged images and a spatially explicit framework combining deep-learning image classification with Geographical Random Forest (GRF) to model relationships between CES diversity and landscape features, uncovering strong spatial non-stationarity in driving mechanisms. While urbanization dominated global trends, local factors like proximity to water emerged as critical, suggesting historical hydrological structures still influence contemporary perceptions even without monumental architecture. Differentiated management strategies are proposed to enhance perceptual continuity along the corridor.
Measuring Spatial–Semantic Coupling in Historic Districts Using Space Syntax and the CLIP Model: A Case Study of the South Central Axis Core Area in Beijing
A novel diagnostic framework reveals complex spatial-semantic coupling in Beijing's South Central Axis, challenging assumptions of uniform 'decoupling' and identifying areas where high spatial integration fails to translate into visual or historical significance. The study combines Space Syntax analysis with the CLIP model's zero-shot semantic extraction, mapping 550 fine-grained sampling points across 6.6 km² to pinpoint 'idle spatial potential,' synergistic heritage cores, and hidden gems in hutongs. It also exposes a severe green island effect and structural contradictions between spaciousness and historical perception, offering scalable, data-driven insights for targeted micro-renewal in historic districts globally.
Minimum intervention level decision for historical buildings: historical buildings along the central axis of Beijing, China
A new method for determining the minimum intervention level for historical buildings, applied to 14 structures along Beijing's Central Axis, reveals that all require minimal interventions to preserve their heritage value. Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process and Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation, researchers categorized these buildings into four groups (2:1:10:1) based on evaluation indicators' weights. This approach provides a scientific framework for balancing preservation and reuse, ensuring historical integrity while supporting sustainable urban development. The findings validate minimal intervention as the optimal strategy for this UNESCO World Heritage Site, offering a model for similar contexts globally.
Research on the Division and Interconstruction of the Peking Opera Field Along the Central Axis of Beijing During the Qing Dynasty—Based on Pierre Bourdieu’s Field Theory
A unique form of Peking opera emerged along Beijing's Central Axis during the Qing Dynasty, characterized by the integration of elegance and vulgarity. This was a result of dynamic interactions between two sub-fields: the court field, centered around imperial power, and the folk field, driven by market logic. The study reveals that while the folk field provided performative vitality and responsiveness to audience demand, the court offered institutional authority and symbolic legitimacy. By applying Pierre Bourdieu's field theory, researchers analyzed differences in core power, spatial characteristics, capital distribution, and actor habits between these fields, shedding light on how power, culture, and art were structurally interconnected during this period.
The Cultural Connotations, Value Implications and Pedagogical Applications of the Beijing Central Axis in University-Level International Chinese Language Education
The Beijing Central Axis, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2024, emerges as a pivotal cultural and educational resource for international Chinese language education. This study identifies its profound significance in fostering cross-cultural communication and understanding among university-level learners, aligning with China's 'going global' strategy for cultural dissemination. By analyzing the Axis's cultural connotations and value implications through the lens of cross-cultural communication theory, the research provides actionable pedagogical insights to integrate this heritage into language curricula, enhancing both cultural knowledge acquisition and national identity formation.
Visual Quality Assessment on the Vista Landscape of Beijing Central Axis Using VR Panoramic Technology
A new framework for assessing the visual quality of historic cityscapes, combining VR panoramic technology with the SBE-SD evaluation method, reveals that the middle section of Beijing's Central Axis ranks highest in scenic beauty, followed by the northern and southern sections. Key influencing factors include color coordination, spatial openness, symmetry, building hierarchy, texture regularity, and visual dominance of landmarks. This quantitative approach bridges subjective perception and objective environmental analysis, offering a replicable methodology for heritage conservation and urban renewal.
Harmony Between Ritual and Residential Spaces in Traditional Chinese Courtyards: A Space Syntax Analysis of Prince Kung’s Mansion in Beijing
A study of Prince Kung’s Mansion in Beijing reveals that ritual and residential spaces are designed with distinct spatial gradients, where ritual areas exhibit high visibility and connectivity while residential spaces prioritize introversion. Using Visibility Graph Analysis (VGA) and axial maps, researchers found a positive correlation between spatial visibility and ritual hierarchy, confirming that connectivity intensifies during rituals compared to daily life. This architectural design reflects Confucian ideological principles such as centrality, gender segregation, and hierarchy. The findings provide evidence-based insights for heritage conservation and offer a new perspective on the analysis of courtyard ritual spaces.
Identifying Spatial Distribution of Urban Vitality Using Self-Organizing Feature Map Neural Network
Urban vitality in Beijing's central areas follows a distinct spatial pattern, decreasing from core to periphery in most dimensions except building diversity. A 15 km radius emerges as a critical threshold, aligning with urban planning circles outlined in the Master Plan of Beijing (2016–2035). This finding was derived using a Self-Organizing Feature Map (SOFM) neural network, which analyzed multisource geospatial big data to reveal nonlinear spatial distributions. The study highlights how urban vitality extends along key axes like the Beijing Central Axis and Chang’an Avenue, offering valuable insights for enhancing urban planning and sustainability.
Multi-agent collaborative pathways for Chinese traditional architectural image generation
A multi-agent collaborative framework for generating high-fidelity images of Chinese traditional architecture, such as those found along the Beijing Central Axis, significantly advances AI-generated content (AIGC) technology. This approach integrates specialized agents to interpret user intent, generate creative prompts, produce culturally accurate images, and assess aesthetic relevance. By leveraging a cultural knowledge base and collaborative workflows, the framework outperforms baseline models in handling vague inputs while ensuring cultural accuracy and creative diversity. The study demonstrates potential for digital preservation, creative transformation, and innovative cultural tourism experiences, offering new pathways for AI applications in heritage conservation.
Planning and layout of tourism and leisure facilities based on POI big data and machine learning
A machine learning approach identifies optimal locations for tourism and leisure facilities along Beijing's Central Axis, achieving 83.5% accuracy in predicting suitable sites based on existing POI data. The study reveals that accommodation availability, shopping, and transportation infrastructure are key factors influencing facility placement, with a notable centralization pattern aligned to the urban core. Predictive analysis suggests new developments should prioritize densely populated areas currently lacking such amenities, offering a data-driven strategy to enhance urban planning while reducing subjectivity in decision-making.
Protection and inheritance of Beijing Central Axis from the perspective of spatial production
Beijing's Central Axis, a UNESCO-listed cultural heritage site spanning 7.8 km, serves as a dynamic space that integrates material and intangible elements to reflect the ideal order of Chinese capital city planning. Research reveals that government-driven conservation efforts and tourism practices have reshaped this heritage space, creating a complex social structure that balances physical restoration with cultural transmission and innovation. However, challenges such as bureaucratic inefficiencies in management, limited innovative interpretation of heritage values, and imbalances between tourist and heritage spaces persist. To address these issues, the study recommends streamlining management systems, leveraging digital technologies for broader heritage engagement, and enhancing public participation through community activities and educational initiatives to foster cultural identity.
Structural Characteristics and Damage Analysis of Beijing Wanning Bridge Under the Coupling Effect of Dynamic Traffic and Subway Vibrations
A critical component of Beijing’s Central Axis World Heritage site, the Wanning Bridge, exhibits shear strain accumulation as its primary damage driver under dynamic traffic loads, with a maximum deformation of 0.26 mm and a natural frequency of 10.547 Hz. Subway-induced vibrations pose no risk to the stone structure, which remains compliant with Class-II highway load standards. This study employed non-destructive testing techniques—3D laser scanning, ground-penetrating radar, and ultrasonic testing—to accurately capture geometric and material parameters without compromising the bridge’s cultural relic status. Combining experimental tests (static, dynamic, and metro-induced vibrations) with numerical simulations, researchers revealed the bridge’s structural responses, offering insights to preserve this rare Yuan Dynasty heritage structure while ensuring urban transport safety.
The "Central Axis Sequence of Time and Season - Festivals and Seasons Study Tour in Beijing and China": An Exploration of the Innovative Practice and Effectiveness of the Festivals and Seasons Cultural Study Programme
A novel cultural education program integrating Beijing's Central Axis heritage with traditional Chinese festival culture significantly boosted youth engagement and cultural confidence. The 'Central Axis Sequence - Festive Seasons Study Tour' combined customized routes, expert lectures, interactive experiences, and digital integration to deliver immersive learning, reaching over 10,000 participants across schools and communities. Analysis revealed the program's effectiveness in fostering cultural knowledge, innovation, and identity through a three-in-one model ('cultural identity - experiential learning - spatial production'), offering a scalable framework for heritage education. This approach bridges policy goals with practical implementation, demonstrating measurable impact on cultural preservation and youth development.
A Post-Evaluation Study on the Renewal of Public Space in Qianmen Street of Beijing’s Central Axis Based on Grounded Theory
Renewal efforts for Qianmen Street, part of Beijing's Central Axis, should prioritize historicity and cultural uniqueness while adopting sustainable, small-scale approaches to enhance tourist satisfaction. This finding emerges from a study that analyzed both spatial significance and subjective perceptions using space syntax and kernel density analysis, revealing the street's underutilized potential as a tourist attraction. The research developed an evaluation system based on grounded theory, identifying four primary indicators—space creation, architectural style conservation, locality, and business management—and 15 secondary factors. Importance-performance analysis (IPA) highlighted that tourists prioritize locality and business management but remain dissatisfied with current levels. These insights underscore the need for targeted, gradual renewal strategies to preserve historical integrity while improving visitor experience.
Evaluation of Cultural Ecosystem Services of Urban Green Space Based on Participatory Geographic Information System (PGIS): A Case Study of the Core Area of Beijing
A study evaluating cultural ecosystem services (CES) in Beijing's core area reveals significant disparities in public perception of green spaces, with 'inspiration,' 'aesthetic value,' and 'cultural heritage value' rated highest. Using a participatory geographic information system (PGIS), researchers collected 4,154 CES perception points from 332 respondents, analyzing spatial distribution patterns through kernel density and LISA methods. Findings indicate that high-density areas of CES perception are dispersed, with varying clustering patterns across sub-districts and urban green space types. The study also highlights a strong positive correlation between 'cultural heritage value' and other CES perceptions, suggesting potential synergies in urban planning. These insights underscore the need to integrate CES needs into green space design, particularly in high-density built-up areas, while addressing the lack of linear and circular distribution in the core area's landscape.
Historical Landscape Preservation along Beijing Central Axis: A Case Study of Yongdingmen Gate Reconstruction
Reconstructing Yongdingmen Gate along Beijing's Central Axis, a 7.8-kilometer-long urban corridor shaping the cityscape for over 700 years, has been shown to effectively restore historical landscape continuity and uphold cultural integrity. This case study demonstrates that such reconstructions can align with UNESCO World Heritage criteria while preserving spatial coherence and conveying China's historical narratives. The research highlights challenges in balancing authenticity with modern urban planning needs, offering insights into heritage conservation practices. By analyzing the gate's reconstruction, the study provides a framework for future urban projects to integrate historical preservation with contemporary development goals.
A model approach for post evaluation of adaptive reuse of architectural heritage: a case study of Beijing central axis historical buildings
A comprehensive post-evaluation framework for adaptive reuse of architectural heritage, tailored to specific cultural contexts, has been developed. This model identifies the most effective strategies for preserving authenticity, integrity, and sustainability while integrating heritage into contemporary development. Using Beijing's Central Axis as a case study, researchers analyzed 9 heritage sites—ranging from single buildings like Meridian Gate to complexes such as the Forbidden City and districts like Qianmen Street—by evaluating 25 factors across three categories: existing fabric, spatial character, and policy/value. The study employed analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation to quantify reuse potential, revealing that Meridian Gate excelled in single buildings, while the Forbidden City led in architectural complexes and Qianmen Street in historical districts. This approach enables real-time assessment of heritage reuse, guiding decision-making before and after implementation.
Digital Exhibition Enhance Value Interpretation and Community Sharing: Practices of Beijing Central Axis
A novel digital exhibition strategy for Beijing's Central Axis significantly enhances public engagement and cultural value interpretation. This approach integrates Augmented Reality (AR) tours, immersive historical building exhibitions, online platforms, and community activities to bridge traditional heritage with modern digital innovation. The pilot project at the Drum Tower demonstrated successful restoration, scientific documentation, and digital reconstruction, balancing conservation, utilization, and economic benefits while appealing particularly to younger audiences. This method not only preserves historical authenticity but also fosters cultural consumption growth and digital creativity, setting a model for future heritage site management.
Research on Augmented Reality Display Technology of Cultural Relics – Take the Bell and Drum Tower on the Central Axis of Beijing, China as an Example
A systematic approach to integrating augmented reality (AR) technology into the preservation and public engagement of cultural heritage sites has been developed, using Beijing's Drum Tower as a case study. This method prioritizes conservation needs while leveraging AR to enhance interactive experiences and convey architectural significance without compromising structural integrity. The research outlines a technical process for AR design in heritage contexts, providing a practical framework for future applications. Additionally, it anticipates the evolution of AR technology in cultural preservation, highlighting its potential to revolutionize museum and site-based education.
Study on the Historical Changes in the Central Axis of Beijing Based on Modern Technology
A comprehensive analysis of the Beijing Central Axis reveals its dynamic historical evolution, providing critical insights for its potential UNESCO World Heritage status. Using modern technologies such as POI data and spatial analysis with ArcGIS, researchers identified shifts in the axis's location across different dynasties through kernel density and linear regression analyses. This study clarifies long-standing ambiguities about the axis's definition and scope, offering a systematic framework for understanding its cultural and architectural significance. Findings underscore the importance of integrating advanced spatial methods to preserve and interpret this iconic corridor, which embodies China's imperial order. The research serves as a foundational reference for future conservation efforts and World Heritage applications.
Study on the walkability of old city streets in Beijing from the perspective of application of Central Axis for World Heritage List
A significant decline in walkability quality is observed along Beijing's Central Axis, with key factors such as street interface, facilities, and style deteriorating from the axis outward. Research identifies that buildings on the north side of Chang’an Avenue better preserve traditional hutong architectural styles. Pearson’s correlation analysis reveals that the proportion of fences and street width strongly influence the sense of security, while street aspect ratio is critical for comfort, and preservation of traditional features shapes aesthetic perception. The study proposes strategies to enhance walkability, including distinguishing pedestrian and vehicular functions, controlling green visual ratios, and protecting traditional street patterns, aiming to support Beijing's Central Axis application for UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023.
The Influence of Politics in Different Chinese Dynasties on the Central Axis of Beijing
The Beijing Central Axis, stretching from the Drum Tower to the Forbidden City, reflects the profound influence of political dynamics on urban planning across Chinese dynasties. Research reveals that imperial power, particularly during the Ming and Qing dynasties, drove the axis's development and expansion, notably through the construction and enlargement of the Forbidden City. This study highlights how political factors shaped Beijing's urban landscape, emphasizing symmetry and continuity from the Yuan dynasty onward. Modern planning efforts now balance historical preservation with contemporary development, showcasing a harmonious integration of past and present. The analysis employs a narrative approach centered on dynastic transitions to assess both the advantages and drawbacks of this political influence on the city's structure.
Linking cultural ecosystem service and urban ecological-space planning for a sustainable city: Case study of the core areas of Beijing under the context of urban relieving and renewal
Residents' perception of cultural ecosystem services (CES) in Beijing's core areas is significantly influenced by the proximity to historically valuable ecological spaces, particularly along the central axis. While community-level ecological spaces are most frequently used, their provision remains inadequate. Notably, educational CES values scored lowest among residents, highlighting a gap in urban planning that could be addressed through conservation and improved accessibility of historical sites. This study underscores the potential for integrating CES perceptions into urban renewal strategies to enhance sustainability and resident well-being in high-density cities.
Post Evaluation of Adaptive reuse of Architectural Heritage: A Case Study of Beijing Central Axis Historical Buildings
A novel post-evaluation framework for adaptive reuse of architectural heritage emerges from analyzing nine Beijing Central Axis sites, revealing critical factors that influence successful integration into contemporary development. This study breaks new ground by applying literature retrieval, analytic hierarchy process, and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation to assess reuse strategies, moving beyond traditional static frameworks to capture the dynamic nature of heritage conservation. The findings provide actionable insights for decision-making and optimization in preserving cultural value while adapting to modern needs.
Inheritance and Development: Study on the Overall Management and Control Strategies of the North–South Extension of Central Axis of Beijing
A proposed extension of the Beijing Central Axis, a UNESCO-listed symbol of ancient Chinese capital planning, offers new strategies for balancing heritage preservation with urban development. Researchers analyzed the axis's historical evolution, ecological integration, and urban relationships using a 'Historical Urban Landscape' framework. They developed a comprehensive management system addressing control scope, spatial expansion, traffic, water systems, green spaces, and governance—aiming to harmonize cultural legacy with modern urban needs. This approach could serve as a model for sustainable development in historic cityscapes.
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