Behind the flower beds on Chang'an Avenue lies the imperial capital's untold history

📍When the commemorative flower beds on Chang'an Avenue made their stunning debut, this "Number One Street in China" once again became the focus. Beijing's Chang'an Avenue stretches 6.7 kilometers from Jianguomen in the east to Fuxingmen in the west. Since its naming in 1959, it has witnessed countless significant moments in the history of New China.

🌺 On the eve of this year's "July 1st," 10 sets of three-dimensional flower beds along Chang'an Avenue arrived as scheduled. The "Creation of Heaven and Earth" flower bed at the northwest corner of Jianguomen recreates the scene of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China with a red boat design; the "Great Journey" flower bed at the northeast corner of Fuxingmen features a red flag backdrop showcasing the struggle history. Each piece is a three-dimensional bookmark of history, telling the red memories belonging to this street.

✨ As one of the longest and widest main urban roads in the world, the architecture along Chang'an Avenue is known as the "Open-Air Museum of the Republic":
- The national emblem hanging on Tiananmen Tower measures 1.7 meters in diameter
- The five-star lamp on the Great Hall of the People’s dome weighs 1.2 tons
- The 37 colonnades in front of the National Museum symbolize the "3:7" golden ratio

🌿 Old Beijingers often say: "Visiting Chang'an Avenue requires timing." In the early morning, crowds gather for the flag-raising ceremony; at noon, admire the grand symmetry of the buildings on both sides; at dusk, when the lights come on, the entire street turns into a golden galaxy. The newly added flower bed landscapes have made this political axis also an artistic corridor for citizens to take photos and check in.

💡 Tips:
Best viewing period: Late June to mid-October
Night viewing hours: 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM (extended to 11:00 PM during the light show)
Transportation guide: Within walking distance from Tiananmen East/West Station on Metro Line 1

From the imperial roads of the Ming and Qing dynasties to the modern thoroughfare, Chang'an Avenue has always pulsed with the heartbeat of Beijing. This year, the flowers blooming in the beds represent not only a season’s fragrance but also the blossoming of a nation’s shared memory.

Post by Benjamin~Hayes99 | Aug 26, 2025