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

Beijing Continues to Unlock Its Consumer Potential, Attracting Over 4,600 First-Store Brands Since 2021

Beijing’s Municipal Bureau of Commerce released data on March 13, showing that the city is continuously unleashing its consumer economy potential. Since 2021, Beijing has attracted over 4,600 first-store brands, established 22 first-store vitality centers and cluster centers, recognized 35 municipal-level特色直播电商 bases, and 50 outstanding live e-commerce cases. Among the top 100 MCN organizations nationwide, Beijing accounts for 24, the highest number in the country.

Digital integration scenes are accelerating, with Sanlitun and Taikoo Li South District selected as the first national demonstration smart commercial districts and stores. Zhongguancun Dalian City has launched the city-level demonstration project “Galaxy Space Capsule” for service humanoid robots. The city has nearly 1,600 overseas tourist shopping and tax refund stores, with 37 “buy and refund immediately” stores. A pioneering “citywide tax refund, multi-point processing” model has been implemented, with seven centralized refund points set up in areas like China World Mall. Haidian District issued China’s first group standard for “General Technical Requirements for Intelligent Cooking Robot Systems in Catering Equipment,” defining embodied intelligent technology standards for dining scenarios.

In bustling streets and venues, cultural tourism, sports, and health service consumption are thriving. In cultural tourism, the first batch of 25 intangible cultural heritage workshops in Beijing was announced, along with 10 “Follow the Events to Tour Beijing” routes, and the “Beijing New Discoveries” top ten inbound tourism theme routes were designed. The city integrated official ticket channels for 74 five-A and four-A scenic spots to launch 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, Beijing successfully hosted major international events such as the 2025 World Aquatics Diving World Cup Finals and the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s 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, internet medical services are expanding rapidly, with 110 internet hospitals and 318 medical institutions providing online diagnosis and treatment. Sixteen pilot units for Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine cultural tourism consumption were launched.

In the evolving urban landscape, Beijing’s commercial districts are transforming from “places to shop” into “stages to experience lifestyles.” Guided by the implementation of the “Special Plan for Commercial Consumption Space Layout in Beijing,” the city has deepened commercial district renovation efforts, balancing upgrades and new development. Since 2021, over 5 million square meters of new commercial space have opened. By 2025, 850 convenient living circles within a 15-minute radius will be completed, covering the entire urban area. Regarding district upgrades, Beijing has issued quality improvement policies for three consecutive years, focusing on transforming consumption spaces from “single-function” to “multi-experience.” In scene creation, the city introduced the “Action Plan for Promoting High-Quality Integration of Diverse Consumption Formats,” building a matrix of “districts, mountains, waterside, performing arts, sports, digital, and nightlife” scenes, with over 100 typical cases such as Blue Harbor and Tangu.

Meanwhile, Beijing remains a hub for international brands, ranking among the top nationwide. The city has recognized 26 regional headquarters of multinational consumer companies such as Galeries Lafayette and Starbucks. The 2026 Spring/Summer Beijing Fashion Week will link with iconic venues such as 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 traditional brands, including 137 Chinese time-honored brands. In food consumption, Beijing has developed 24特色餐饮街区, created 31 “Late Night Canteen” themed streets, with 99 restaurants listed in the Michelin Guide, 35 in the Black Pearl Guide, and 142 on the Dazhong Dianping Must-Eat List.

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