Since 2021, Beijing has cumulatively attracted over 4,600 flagship stores of various types.

Beijing Continues to Unlock Its Consumer Potential

Beijing, March 13 (Xinhua) — Data released by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Commerce on the 13th show that the city continues to unleash its initial economic potential. Since 2021, Beijing has attracted over 4,600 first stores of various types, cultivated and built 22 first-store vitality centers and cluster centers. The city has also recognized 35 municipal-level特色直播电商基地 (live-streaming e-commerce bases) and 50 outstanding live-streaming e-commerce cases. Among the top 100 MCN organizations nationwide, Beijing accounts for 24, ranking first in the country.

The integration of digital scenarios in Beijing is accelerating. Sanlitun commercial area and Taikoo Li South District have been selected as the first demonstration smart commercial districts and stores nationwide. Zhongguancun Dalian City has launched the “Galaxy Space Capsule,” a city-level demonstration project for commercial humanoid robots. Nearly 1,600 stores in the city offer tax refunds for outbound travelers, including 37 “buy and get tax refund immediately” stores. The city pioneered the “citywide tax refund, multi-point processing” model, establishing seven centralized refund points in areas like China World Mall. Haidian District released the country’s first group standard for “General Technical Requirements for Intelligent Cooking Robot Systems in Catering Equipment,” defining the embodied intelligent technology standards for catering scenarios.

In the bustling streets and venues, Beijing’s cultural tourism, sports, and health service consumption are thriving. In cultural tourism, the city announced the first batch of 25 intangible cultural heritage workshops, launched 10 routes titled “Travel Beijing with Events,” and designed ten major inbound tourism routes under the theme “Discovering Beijing.” It integrated ticketing channels for 74 municipal 5A and 4A scenic spots into the Beijing Scenic Spot Ticketing Service Platform. Additionally, 304 new catering outlets have been established in cultural tourism venues, continuously upgrading the experience. In sports consumption, Beijing successfully hosted major international events such as the 2025 World Diving World Cup Finals and the 2025 FIVB Volleyball World League (Beijing stop). The 2025 China Open tennis tournament achieved a record-breaking box office of 88 million yuan, boosting overall consumption by 36 million yuan, a 44% increase. In health consumption, the city vigorously develops internet healthcare, with 110 internet hospitals and 318 medical institutions providing online diagnosis and treatment services. It also launched 16 pilot units for Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine cultural tourism consumption.

In the evolving urban landscape, Beijing’s commercial districts have transformed from “places to shop” into “stages to experience lifestyles.” Guided by the implementation of the “Special Plan for the Layout of Commercial Consumption Space in Beijing,” the city deepens commercial district renovation and upgrading efforts, balancing renewal and new development. Since 2021, over 5 million square meters of new commercial space have opened. By the end of 2025, 850 convenient living circles within a 15-minute walk will be established, achieving full urban coverage. Regarding district upgrades, Beijing has issued quality improvement policies for three consecutive years, focusing on transforming consumption spaces from “single-function” to “multi-sensory experiences.” In terms of scene creation, the city introduced the “Action Plan for Promoting High-Quality Development of Diverse Consumption Formats,” building an integrated matrix of “districts, mountains, water, performing arts, sports, digital, and nightlife,” with over 100 typical cases such as Blue Harbor and Tanjing.

Meanwhile, Beijing’s concentration of international brands remains among the top nationwide. The city has recognized 26 regional headquarters of multinational consumer companies, including Galeries Lafayette and Starbucks. The 2026 Spring/Summer Beijing Fashion Week will coordinate with landmark venues like the Phase II National Convention Center, Longfu Temple, and Gubei Water Town, gathering over 300 domestic and international brands and hosting more than 150 fashion and cultural events. The local brand ecosystem is also thriving, with 274 “time-honored” brands, including 137 Chinese time-honored brands. In the culinary sector, Beijing has established 24特色餐饮聚集街区 (specialty dining clusters) and created 31 “Night Canteen” themed dining streets. Ninety-nine restaurants have been listed in the Michelin Guide, 35 in the Black Pearl Guide, and 142 in the Dazhong Dianping Must-Eat List.

The Beijing Municipal Bureau of Commerce stated that, standing at the new starting point of the “14th Five-Year Plan,” it will focus on the “Beijing Municipal Action Plan for Deepening Reform and Boosting Consumption.” The city will proactively expand domestic demand and implement stronger measures to elevate the construction of an international consumer center city to a new level. (End)