The central axis, backbone of Beijing
Speaking of the central axis, what could not be neglected is Huangsi Compound. Before 1988, it was a complete compound unit but for the 1990 Asian Games held in Beijing, the courtyard was divided into two parts and the central axis was opened as a consequence.
Consequently, my home here needed to be relocated. In the following decades, after many twists and turns, I went back to living on the central axis around 2000 and haven't left yet. Not far north along the central axis from the Huangsi Compound is Beitucheng, which is also the southernmost point of APEC Landscape Avenue. It used to be called "Panda Roundabout". At the center of the roundabout is a huge white marble sculpture of the panda "Panpan", the Asian Games mascot in 1990. In April 2005, the sculpture was cut and dismantled to make way for a subway station, and the market was closed. Additionally, the roundabout was also turned into a crossroads, from then on Panda Roundabout has become a key point for every Beijinger.
