Editor's note: The Beijing Central Axis, a 7.8-kilometer-long north-to-south line stretching through the center of the city's historical neighborhood, boasts important memorial halls, ceremonial buildings and landmark architecture dating back to the 13th century. 

The buildings along both sides of the axis offer a glimpse into the lives of emperors, aristocrats and ordinary folks in history. As a result, it presents a comprehensive picture of traditional Chinese society.

Since China announced the plan to recommend the Beijing Central Axis as the nation's 2024 world cultural heritage application project in August, local authorities have rolled out the regulation on preservation, established a think tank for the application work, and launched competitions for cultural promotion, in a bid to better protect cultural legacies in the region.

Here, China.org.cn examines the top 10 historic sites along the axis and their cultural significance.

#Yongdingmen (Gate of Perpetual Peace)

Initially built in 1553 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Yongdingmen (Gate of Perpetual Peace) is located at the southernmost end of the Beijing Central Axis and is one of the most classic city gates of Beijing. As part of the cultural heritage preservation projects for the Beijing 2008 Summer Games, the gate tower of Yongdingmen was reconstructed in 2004 based on the architectural style of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) during the reign of Emperor Qianlong.