Chang’an Avenue was once said to be the widest and longest avenue in the world. It is a landmark of Beijing in both ancient times and modern times. Demarcated by the Tiananmen Square, the eastern and western parts are named as East Changan Avenue and West Changan Avenue respectively. It is the east-west axis of the Beijing City, connected with a series of streets.
Located along Chang’an Avenue and near Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City are the Great Hall of the People (China’s parliament building) and Zhongnanhai (the central Chinese government headquarters). The National Museum of China, National Centre for the Performing Arts (China’s foremost cultural center), Wangfujing (Beijing’s main shopping street), Xidan (modern shopping area popular with Beijing locals), Beijing Concert Hall, Capital Museum, China World Trade Centre and the headquarters of the central bank of China, the People’s Bank of China are also on Chang’an Avenue.