Twin souls: Central Axis of Beijing and Historic Centre of Rome

Historic Centre of Rome

Rome was not built in a day. Founded according to legend by Romulus and Remus in 753 BC, Rome was first the center of the Roman Republic, then of the Roman Empire, and in the 4th century, it became the capital of the Christian world. From the 4th century on, ancient Rome was followed by Christian Rome with the Christian city built on top of the ancient city, reusing spaces, buildings and materials.

Since its foundation, Rome has continually been linked with the history of humanity. From Ancient Rome to the Middle Ages, from the Renaissance to the Baroque and Neoclassical periods, it always served as a cultural center in Europe.

The Historic Centre of Rome encompasses the whole historic center of Rome within the city walls at their widest extent in the 17th century, as well as the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. The major monuments include the Forums, a venue for public meetings, courts of law and gladiatorial combats, and was lined with shops and open-air markets; the Mausoleum of Augustus, the largest funerary monument in the world at the time it was built; the Pantheon, a temple dedicated to twelve gods and to the living Sovran; and Trajan's Column commemorating Roman emperor Trajan's victory in the Dacian Wars.

Both the Central Axis of Beijing and the Historic Centre of Rome represent the souls of their respective cities. The central axis concentrated many cultural and historical relics of Beijing, having witnessed the ebb and flow of the city for centuries and looking forward to more flourishing future as a mega city of the world. Around 9,000 km away from Beijing, the Historic Centre of Rome in Italy records its two-millennium history through its unparalleled architectural languages featuring a wide range of building styles and original developments in urban planning which are harmoniously integrated in the city's complex morphology.