Chaoyang unveils policies to level up esports sector

Beijing's Chaoyang district released 18 new policies and eight major projects on Nov. 7 to accelerate the development of its booming esports sector.

The new policies encourage the use of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality, reward innovative projects, and support industrial clustering through a "one corridor, two zones, multiple points" framework.

Incentives include up to 5 million yuan ($725,000) for standout industrial parks and up to 10 million yuan for building or upgrading competition venues.

Chaoyang district, the center of Beijing's esports industry, has developed a specialized industrial park at the Dongjin International Center, home to leading companies including Perfect World and FunPlus. The district's ecosystem covers game development, esports operations, live broadcasting platforms and distribution channels.

In a move to provide full-cycle support for these enterprises, the Beijing Chaoyang Gaming and Esports Industry Development Alliance was formally unveiled on Nov. 8.

Esports is a powerful catalyst for cultural tourism. Weibo IN, Beijing's largest esports complex, opened in Chaoyang district earlier this year. The 42,000-square-meter venue can host top-tier tournaments and is expected to draw more than 5 million visitors annually. Together with Pop Mart City Park, the complex integrates esports with tourism, creating an immersive destination for young people and tournament fans.