Seven McDonald's restaurants located along Beijing's Central Axis have been transformed into themed "Central Axis Light and Shadow" venues, where customers can enjoy panoramic views of the axis, collect "McMc Central Axis Guardian Cards" souvenirs, and obtain the "Second Anniversary Commemorative Envelope of Beijing's Central Axis Inscription on the World Heritage List." On August 7, Beijing McDonald's announced that it has partnered with the Beijing Enterprise Central Axis Protection Public Welfare Foundation to launch the "Central Axis Light and Shadow, I Like It" themed photo exhibition.

Since entering Beijing in 1992, nearly 700 McDonald's restaurants in the city now serve over 180 million customers annually. Along the Central Axis, McDonald's has deployed nearly 30 restaurants, including the Beijing McDonald's Old Drum Tower Street restaurant, which opened in 2011 as the city's first Chinese-style ancient architecture McDonald's outlet, located just a 10-minute walk from the Central Axis heritage site of the Bell and Drum Towers. In 2025, the McDonald's Beijing Central Axis themed restaurant made its debut in Longfu Temple. The Beijing McDonald's Shichahai (Back Lake South Bank) restaurant, scheduled to open in 2026, will feature a Chinese-style octagonal pavilion design, becoming a new popular landmark along the axis.

Gu Lei, Chief Impact Officer of McDonald's China, stated that in the future, Beijing McDonald's will leverage its restaurant network to continue collaborating with the Beijing Central Axis on cultural education and themed experiences, allowing the city's historical depth to reach more citizens and tourists through dining scenarios. According to reports, the McDonald's restaurants along the Central Axis, including Beijing Tiantan East Road, Donghuamen (Cloisonné), Old Drum Tower Street, Shichahai (Back Lake South Bank), Dongsi Shitiao (Qinglan Building), Dongsi West Street (Beijing Central Axis themed restaurant), and Zhangzizhong Road (Subway Exit D), will serve as "cultural experience spaces" for the exhibition. Visitors can view the "Central Axis Light and Shadow, I Like It" photo exhibition, capture scenes of the axis, read cultural stories, and have the chance to earn "McMc Central Axis Guardian Cards" and the "Second Anniversary Commemorative Envelope of Beijing's Central Axis Inscription on the World Heritage List."

Wang Guangyi, Senior General Manager of Beijing McDonald's, emphasized that Beijing McDonald's is advancing its strategic cooperation with the Beijing Central Axis Foundation. McDonald's aims to use its restaurants as a medium to connect the city's historical heritage with everyday life, enabling more customers to touch, feel, and share their shared urban memories.