The CPPCC is now just days away. And one of the topics possibly up for discussion is the protection of China's architectural heritage. Our Correspondent Yao Chin finds out how things are lining up in Beijing to promote the cause.  

Beijing, home to more than 21 million people. Over more than six hundred years continuously serving as the capital, it's grown around and sometimes on top of the ancient Ming Dynasty at its heart. But there is an increasing recognition here that allowing China's architectural heritage to decay or be demolished is not done in the name of progress. So, the preservation of Beijing's historic buildings is being offered as a roadmap for the rest of the country to follow. And what a straightforward map it is: most important buildings here are either on, or symmetrically placed along a straight line called the Central Axis. The axis begins in south Beijing, at Yongding Men, or Lasting Peace Gate.

YAO CHIN BEIJING "An incredible view of a town planning feat. In front of us is Tiananmen Square directly behind it are the Imperial Palace which is also called the Forbidden City, all centered on Beijing's Central Axis. But is the preservation of Modern and ancient China's architectural heritage in line with the national debate?"

One of the key people working to protect the country's historic sites told me he hopes so.

ZHU YANSHI DEPUTY DIRECTOR, INSTITUTE OF ARCHAEOLOGY "I believe the Two Sessions of this year will see proposals for the protection of Beijing's Ancient City, and of its cultural heritage all along the Central Axis. As an academic, I hope to use my knowledge and position to protect these more. As far as the protection of the ancient city of Beijing is concerned, we have found a pretty good opportunity – the new overall city plan of Beijing, approved by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, urges overall protection of the ancient capital. That means protection given not only to a street, a hutong, or a historic building, but also to the ancient city of Beijing from Ming and Qing dynasties."

I was keen to see what made the preservation of the Axis so important, and why it would be an example for other Chinese cities to fall in line behind.

YAO CHIN BEIJING "We're now at Qianmen, or the Front Gate. It's been rebuilt several times, but the Front Gate has stood here since ancient times where it guarded the inner city of ancient China. Today, it marks the Southern entrance of Tiananmen Square."

SHI LIANG ARCHITECT "To Beijingers who know about the city's culture, Qianmen means a lot. Its original name is Zhengyangmen and it's a very important symbol and landmark building of Beijing's Central Axis. Let's now move along the Central Axis. You see, this is modern architecture, and symbols of New Beijing. We're now at the heart of the Tian'anmen Square. In the east stands the National History Museum, ranked among the Top Ten Buildings of New China. Moving on, we see the Monument to the People's Heroes in the middle of the Square. It is a focal point of Tian'anmen Square. We pass it and find the Great Hall of the People on the West side of the Square. Some large Government conferences and important meetings take place here. These three buildings encompass the Square. The central axis we are walking on, faces Tian'anmen, also known as the gate of the Imperial Palace. We are now arriving at Tian'anmen, the entrance of the Forbidden City. Tiananmen is the most important gate of the Imperial Palace. Its yellow glazed tiles and double-eaved gable-and-hip roof sufficiently constitute a part of the majestic and dignified ancient complex."

At the back of the Forbidden City is a small mountain. Positioning the palace in front of it was believed to bring the Emperors good Feng Shui. It also gave us an excellent view.

SHI LIANG ARCHITECT "We have arrived at the highest point on the central axis. We are now at Jingshan mountain. In ancient times, you could see the whole of Beijing from this point. We can see the major buildings of the Forbidden City: they are all on the central axis."

Our tour nearly at an end, it was clear that fostering an appreciation of the Axis will help determine the direction architectural preservation will take.

SHI LIANG ARCHITECT "Let's look at the final section of the Central Axis. We see the Hall of Imperial Longevity, which is a memorial hall for former members of royal families, where sacrifices were made to worship them. In front of this are the famous Bell Tower and Drum Tower."

YAO CHIN BEIJING "We are now in the Drum Tower, the red Yuan dynasty building that Mr. Shi pointed out earlier, and this is the bell tower that chimed the time to the people of Beijing right up to 1924. It is the last stop on Beijing's central axis. But this is not the end of the line, it is the starting point of a journey to preserve China's unprotected historic sites both in the capital and beyond. The next stop, possibly, the Chinese people's political consultative conference. Where there are hopes an axis, in the political sense, will come together to encourage the protection of many more of China's architectural treasures. YC CGTN Beijing."