Tourists walking on the Wanning Bridge in Beijing can now use a mobile app to explore the historical Central Axis. By overlaying digital content on real space, the app provides an augmented reality experience that brings to life the bustling street market and the vanished cultural relics buildings. Visitors can also learn about kite making techniques and the production process of Beijing-style cheongsam.
The Beijing Central Axis, also known as Zhongzhouxian, has been in existence since the Yuan Dynasty. Spanning 7.8 kilometers from the Yongding Gate to the Drum Tower and Bell Tower, most of the city’s major old buildings are located along this axis.
The augmented reality app lets visitors see a cute cartoon beast pop up on the screen to guide them on the tour. The app provides an immersive experience by digitally reproducing the historical scene of the Central Axis, which is an important part of Beijing’s cultural heritage.
Tourists can use the app to learn about the history of Beijing and explore the ancient street market. They can also discover the traditional Chinese kite making techniques and the production process of the Beijing-style cheongsam.
The augmented reality experience brings the past and present together, providing a unique way to engage with history and culture. The app aims to enhance the public’s understanding of Beijing’s rich cultural heritage and promote cultural preservation.
Through the use of technology, the app has transformed the way visitors experience the Central Axis. It offers an engaging and interactive way to learn about the city’s history and cultural traditions.
The augmented reality app on the Beijing Central Axis is an innovative approach to cultural tourism that provides a unique and immersive experience for visitors.
The ancient Central Axis has been drawing attention in recent years, thanks to the advancements in digital technology. Visitors can now experience the beauty of the Central Axis from a bird’s eye view, as they journey from south to north, taking in the antique architecture and experiencing the different seasons of the ancient city.
Digital products have been instrumental in showcasing the unique charm of the Central Axis, as they break through the limitations of time and space. Tao Yingchun, one of the organizers of a Central Axis-themed interactive exhibition, believes that digital products can effectively capture the essence of the ancient site.
To build a digital version of the Central Axis, advanced technologies such as digital surveying, mapping, and 3D modeling are needed. These technologies allow for the creation of a virtual model that replicates the historical architecture and landmarks of the ancient site.
Through the use of digital products, visitors can experience the grandeur of the ancient Central Axis, which stretches 7.8 kilometers between the Yongding Gate in the south and the Drum Tower and Bell Tower in the north. By providing a bird’s eye view of the ancient site, visitors can appreciate the architectural beauty of the cultural relics buildings and understand the historical significance of the site.
The digital Central Axis-themed interactive exhibition is a prime example of how digital products can be used to preserve and promote cultural heritage sites. Through the use of augmented reality technology, visitors can immerse themselves in the ancient site and gain a better understanding of its history and significance.
As the importance of cultural preservation continues to grow, digital products are playing an increasingly important role in showcasing the unique cultural heritage of various regions. Through the use of advanced technologies such as digital surveying, mapping, and 3D modeling, historical sites can be digitally recreated and preserved for future generations to enjoy.
The digital Central Axis is a testament to the power of digital technology in promoting cultural preservation and heritage tourism. By providing an immersive and interactive experience, visitors can gain a deeper appreciation for the historical significance and architectural beauty of the ancient site.
Liu Hong, Party secretary of the Beijing Academy of Surveying and Mapping, led a team of nearly 200 people in 2020 to conduct ultra-fine surveying, mapping, and 3D modeling of various heritage elements along the Central Axis. This program provides a complete set of spatial databases that support the monitoring, management, protection, and utilization of the heritage elements of the Central Axis.
Several ancient cultural buildings along the Central Axis have been renovated with digital technologies. Li Wanbo, head of the restoration team, explained that “intelligent construction technologies, such as 3D scanning and panoramic imaging, have been applied in the restoration of ancient buildings.” These technologies help construction workers to formulate cultural relics repair plans in a more scientific manner. The restoration process has also been digitally recorded in a file format that provides data for follow-up monitoring and preventive protection.
The Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau‘s director, Chen Mingjie, believes that Beijing’s Central Axis embodies traditional Chinese philosophy, such as respect for nature and appreciation of the harmonious co-existence of man and nature. Chen added that digital technologies can showcase the value of the time-honored Central Axis in an ingenious and fashionable manner.
Digital technologies such as digital surveying, mapping, and 3D modeling are required to build a digital Central Axis. Digital products can break through the boundaries of time and space and show the unique charm of the Central Axis. Tao Yingchun, one of the exhibition organizers, believes that digital products can provide an immersive experience of the Central Axis by overlaying virtual digital content on top of the real space.
At a digital Central Axis-themed interactive exhibition, visitors can enjoy the Central Axis from a bird’s eye view and appreciate the antique beauty of cultural relics buildings. They can also experience different seasons in the ancient city. Digital technologies have made it possible to reproduce the historical scene of the Central Axis and digitally recreate the disappeared cultural relics buildings.
The Beijing Academy of Surveying and Mapping has made remarkable progress in the digital mapping of Beijing’s Central Axis. The use of digital technologies in the restoration of ancient buildings along the Central Axis has also been successful. The Central Axis embodies traditional Chinese philosophy and cultural heritage. Therefore, digital technologies can be used to showcase the value of the Central Axis in an innovative and fashionable way.
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