IN-PERSON London Heritages. Section A

Abstract

In 21st-century China, museums have emerged as central components of urban life and active agents in processes of urban regeneration. Beijing, in particular, has set ambitious goals to construct 460 museums by 2035, positioning itself to be recognised as a “city of museums” within the next decade. The ongoing “Museum City” initiative aligns closely with Beijing’s 2024 nomination of the Central Axis for UNESCO World Heritage status. Numerous new museums have recently been built along the Central Axis which symbolised imperial power and their centrality in the past. Together, these projects reflect Beijing’s strategic efforts to reshape its urban image, stimulate economic growth, and revitalise its cultural heritage. This article will focus on museums located along the Central Axis, examining their historical trajectories to understand the interplay between urban heritage and urban regeneration from a museum-centric perspective. By using selected cases of national and private museums of varying scales, the study will investigate their architectural histories, spatial relationships, exhibition histories, and exhibition content. It will explore the tensions between museums as “sites of memory” and as catalysts for urban transformation, as well as how these tensions and dynamics contribute to reimagining the Central Axis heritage. Specifically, it highlights the transformation of the imperial legacy of the Central Axis into public cultural spaces and sites of consumption for contemporary society. By analysing the museums along Beijing’s Central Axis, this article seeks to provide a framework for understanding the role of museums in urban space. It will also underscore the potential of museums as analytical methods for observing urban culture and spatial transformations.