Four Centers
They refer to Beijing’s strategic position as the national political center, cultural center, center for international exchanges and center for technological innovation, as defined by China’s central authorities.
Four Services
They refer to four fundamental duties of Beijing as the capital, that is to support departments and institutions of the CPC central committee, the central government and central military commission, to facilitate international exchanges at the national level, to advance the development of science, technology and education, and to improve people’s lives. These reflect the basic requirements of the central authorities for the capital city.
Five Key Initiatives
These are five development initiatives launched by Beijing to better fulfill its strategic role.
They include building Beijing into an international center of technological innovation; developing the Two Zones, namely the National Integrated Demonstration Zone for Greater Openness in the Services Sector and the China (Beijing) Pilot Free Trade Zone; turning Beijing into a global model city for the digital economy; driving and fostering new demand through supply-side structural reform; and promoting the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region through relocation of functions non-essential to Beijing’s role as the capital.
These initiatives, pursued in a coordinated way, will enable Beijing to better serve and integrate into the country’s new development pattern.
Two Wings of the Capital
This refers to the Beijing Municipal Administrative Center (BMC) and the Xiong’an New Area in Hebei Province, which are developing as the two wings of the capital city. On June 27, 2017, General Secretary Xi Jinping presided over a meeting of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, which focused on reports of the Master Plan of Development for Beijing. The General Secretary stressed that the BMC, along with the Xiong’an New Area, should serve as the two wings, with the capital as the center, to propel the coordinated development of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei, and to ultimately create a world-class city cluster in the region.
Three Hills and Five Gardens
These refer to a group of historical and cultural sites located in the northwest suburbs of Beijing. The “Three Hills” are the Longevity Hill, the Fragrant Hill and the Jade Spring Hill, while the “Five Gardens” are the Summer Palace, Garden of Tranquility and Pleasure (Jingyi Garden), Garden of Tranquility and Brightness (Jingming Garden), Garden of Everlasting Spring (Changchun Garden) and Yuanmingyuan Ruins Park. Together they represent a profound cultural legacy spanning multiple historical eras, epitomized by the exquisite 18th-century imperial gardens of the Qing Dynasty. Their beautiful landscapes and structures perfectly embody harmony between humanity and nature.
Three Major Zones of Revolutionary Culture
These are three themed heritage zones in Beijing, each commemorating a pivotal period in China’s modern revolutionary history: 1) the early CPC activities zone, centered on the Red Building of Peking University; 2) the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression zone, centered on Lugou Bridge and Wanping city area; and 3) the founding of the PRC zone, centered on Shuangqing Villa and Tian’anmen Square.
Sixth Ring Road High Line Park
This refers to a high line park made possible by the partial undergrounding of the eastern section of the Sixth Ring Road. Built upon the existing roadbed and adjacent green spaces, the park extends approximately 14 kilometers from north to south, and covers a total area of about 5.45 square kilometers. It serves as an urban corridor with integrated functions in the Beijing Municipal Administrative Center, seamlessly linking its northern and southern sections, as well as its east and west parts.
Memory of the World Nomination
This refers to the application process to inscribe documentary heritage on the Memory of the World International Register. Launched in 1992, the Memory of the World Program is a UNESCO initiative dedicated to safeguarding humanity’s documentary legacy. The goal is to preserve endangered records through international cooperation and the use of advanced technologies, ensuring that the world’s collective memory endures.
National Awards for Best Cultural Works
These awards were first set up in 1992 by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee to recognize excellence in ethical and cultural development. Presented every two years, they aim to promote high-quality intellectual and cultural works. Initially, the awards were presented in five categories: stage plays, television dramas (series), films, works of social science, and articles on theory in social sciences. In 1995, the scope was broadened to include songs and radio dramas, and then in 2024, online literary and artistic creations, bringing the total number of award categories to eight.
