Childhood imagination brings Beijing’s Central Axis to life

On the little theater stage of the China National Theater for Children, a young stone lion named Dundun and a little swallow named Feifei embark on a magical treasure hunt along Beijing’s historic, 800-year-old Central Axis.

The production An Adventure in Search of the Central Axis Treasurewas created to commemorate the theater’s 70th anniversary. Co-created by the teachers and children from Beijing No. 1 Kindergarten, the play brings the grand architecture out from the heavy pages of history and into the vibrant world of children’s imagination.

The story follows Dundun’s quest to become the guardian of the Yongding Gate. Traveling northward along the axis, he searches for four “treasures”: the folk memories carried in the scent of mugwort; the craftsmanship found in carved roof-ridge beasts and painted beams; the march of time echoed in the ancient bell and drum towers; and the commitment to protecting one’s home.

From the Yongding Gate and the Temple of Heaven, to the Forbidden City and the Bell and Drum Towers, the landmarks of the Beijing Central Axis come to life on stage. Characters such as Miss Mugwort, the Forbidden City roof beasts, a cultural relic restorer, and Grandpa Drum Tower make their respective entrance in turn. Diverse art forms, including traditional rhythmic verse, kuaiban, drum performances, and group dances, are woven throughout the imaginative storytelling and playful interactions. Through a blend of laughter and wonder, the young audience comes to understand why it matters to cherish history and protect our heritage.

What makes the production special is that it is not a cultural lesson handed down from adults. Instead, it has grown entirely out of the perspectives of the children. In the kindergarten’s drama club, these children, averaging just five to six years old, participated throughout the entire creative process. Through creative drama games and improvisations, they shared their observations and imaginations of the Central Axis, which then inspired the character design, dialogue and choreography for the show.

This performance is the culmination of over three decades of pioneering work by the Beijing No. 1 Kindergarten. Since the 1990s, the kindergarten, nestled within the Central Axis landscape, has explored how to introduce the millennia-old heritage into the world of preschoolers.

Over years of practice, the kindergarten has developed an approach centered on immersive aesthetic experience. Rather than forcing knowledge on children, the Central Axis culture is woven into the day-to-day school life and transformed into something children can see, touch and explore for themselves.

During a daily ten-minute observation time, children admire the intricate patterns on the beams of the Hall of Supreme Harmony of the Forbidden City, or listen to the distant evening bells of the Bell and Drum Towers.

The school grounds feature a “little Central Axis”: from the screen wall to the flower-covered gateway, from the small pond to the teaching building, the symmetrical layout allows children to intuitively experience the sense of order in traditional architecture as they walk and play.

At lunch time, classic Beijing snacks such as hutazi (zucchini pancakes), Miancha (millet porridge with sesame paste) and “rolling donkey” glutinous rice rolls offer children a taste of the ancient capital’s everyday flavors.

Beyond the school gates, the Central Axis itself becomes a living classroom. From the summit of Jingshan Hill, children take in a panoramic view of the city’s north-south alignment. Inside the Forbidden City, children examine the textures of the Nine Dragon Wall up close. They recreate golden door studs with soft clay, mimic the winding forms of Chinese dragons with their bodies, and even craft artificial nests for the swallows living under the palace eaves, or build climbing frames for cats roaming the imperial palace grounds. Through this multisensory engagement, traditional culture is no longer a distant historical symbol. Instead, it becomes a friend brimming with stories, animals, and endless discovery.

The kindergarten also encourages children to interpret history on their own terms through paintings and clay creations, all displayed at their eye level in a dedicated exhibition space. Free from rigid formulas or standardized answers, the children become proactive creators of culture rather than passive recipients.

Guided by the philosophy that “as children grow, culture also grows”, this long-term educational exploration has not only nurtured children but also breathed new vitality into traditional culture. The kindergarten was awarded First Prize in the Beijing Basic Education Teaching Achievements awards in 2025.

As the curtain fell and the young cast bowed to sustained applause, it was clear that the Central Axis is no abstract historical concept to these children. Instead, it has become an old friend. When ancient heritage meets childhood imagination, cultural continuity takes on its most vibrant form. The profound connection sparked on this stage ensures that the story of this historic heritage will be carried forward and lovingly preserved by its future guardians.

The author is the principal of Beijing No 1 Kindergarten. 

The author contributed this article to China Watch, a think tank powered by China Daily. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

Contact the editor at editor@chinawatch.cn.