Axis becomes center of attention

At this point, Dai says related parties should listen to feedback from inbound travelers to better understand their needs and pave the way for future cultural and tourism experiences design and marketing.

Studies should also be carried out on the needs of travelers from different areas, including Asia, Europe and Americas, he says.

"We have to do a good job delivering an interpretation system for the central axis, so its stories can be genuinely and vividly told," Dai notes.

Lyu Zhou, director of the National Heritage Center at Tsinghua University, says he has seen the Beijing Central Axis application for the UNESCO listing bring tremendous vitality to the capital, igniting people's love for the city and awakening cultural confidence and awareness.

Many residents have contributed their narratives to the history, and anecdotes about the axis and travel products featuring its culture have come up, he says.

Lyu says the focus of future work around the central axis lies in the full use of the area's history and cultural resources to play a positive role in conveying its value and having more people understand China.

Luo Kai, an official from the new social stratum association of the capital city's Dongcheng district, believes it's important to vividly present the central axis to the youth.

"Youth plays an important role in the protection and sustainable development of the Beijing Central Axis," says Luo, who has engaged in cultural heritage education for years.