From trendy landmarks to community streets, Beijing's diverse consumption scenes paint a vivid picture of its transformation into an international consumption hub. On December 18, a press conference highlighted the city's progress in fostering this vision, with key achievements including the arrival of over 5,000 flagship stores, the opening of more than 5 million square meters of new commercial space, the establishment of 850 15-minute convenience circles, and the preservation of 274 time-honored brands. These milestones reflect Beijing's success in integrating culture, commerce, tourism, and sports, supported by favorable policies and an improving business environment.
The city's consumption landscape continues to evolve, with flagship stores playing a pivotal role. Since 2019, Beijing has attracted over 5,000 flagship stores, including global debut centers like Taikoo Li Sanlitun. Chaoyang District stands out, introducing nearly 2,800 flagship stores and nurturing local brands such as Pop Mart and Xiao Xian Dun. Xicheng District has also made strides, welcoming 328 flagship stores, including the Manchester United Dream Theatre, blending international appeal with local culture.
Cultural and tourism consumption has surged, with Beijing welcoming over 300 million visitors in the first ten months of the year, generating tourism revenue exceeding 600 billion yuan, up 5.4% and 7.2% year-on-year, respectively. The city has designated over 100 new performance spaces, hosted 50,000 commercial performances, and attracted 12 million attendees, with box office earnings reaching 4.5 billion yuan. Additionally, Beijing has launched more than 500 themed walking routes, 300 popular check-in spots, and 20 micro-vacation destinations, enriching its nighttime economy.
Sports tourism has also gained traction, with Chaoyang District leveraging its nearly 100 cinemas and 13 large sports venues to host international events like the Light Consumption Season and Auto Consumption Season. Xicheng District has tapped into its intangible cultural heritage, creating 14 new performance spaces and cultural tourism bases, with areas like Tianqiao and Shichahai earning national recognition for their blend of tradition and modernity.
Convenience remains a priority, with Beijing establishing 850 15-minute living circles, achieving full coverage by November 2025. Chaoyang leads with 170 such circles, while Xicheng excels in 10-minute convenience circles, ensuring comprehensive access to services within 500 meters of residential areas.
The city's business environment continues to improve, with reforms like the "One Standard, Four Dimensions" registration system and streamlined online processes for foreign enterprises. Beijing has also upgraded its credit information system, facilitating credit repair for over 270,000 businesses. Efforts to integrate dining with culture, commerce, and tourism have simplified licensing for 304 convenience eateries in parks, museums, and subway stations.
Policy support has been instrumental, with initiatives like the "Beijing Cultural and Tourism New Consumption Incentive Program" rewarding 88 projects and injecting nearly 1 billion yuan into the market. The "Beijing Performing Arts High-Quality Development Support Measures" have boosted the sector, with 241 large-scale performances this year. The "Beijing Gift" brand has expanded to include 932 unique products across 30 stores, becoming a cultural and tourism highlight.
Looking ahead, Beijing aims to elevate its status as an international consumption center by focusing on service quality, product innovation, and multi-sector integration. The city will advance projects like Universal Studios Phase II and enhance its "dual hub" consumption capacity. Approved for two national pilot programs—"Three New" (new formats, models, and scenarios) and "International Consumption Environment"—Beijing will foster flagship stores, innovative consumption scenes, and cross-border collaborations with知名IPs.
Districts are also charting their courses. Chaoyang plans to develop iconic consumption landmarks like Tai Koo Place and China Resources MixC, while Xicheng will deepen the integration of culture, commerce, and tourism, supporting time-honored brands in going global and refining its tax-refund ecosystem.
The Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism will optimize spatial layouts, develop senior-friendly tourism products, and promote industrial and tech-driven tourism scenes, further enhancing the city's appeal as a global consumption destination.