Beijing expands commercial space to boost consumption

Beijing has expanded its commercial landscape this year as part of efforts to cultivate new consumption scenarios and enhance economic vitality. 

According to the Beijing Municipal Commerce Bureau, the city had added over 1 million square meters of new large-scale commercial facilities by November, with nearly 1,000 brands opening their first stores across the Chinese capital this year. 

New commercial complexes have emerged in multiple districts, integrating retail with history, culture, and leisure. These developments have helped diversify consumption scenarios, optimize commercial layouts, and upgrade the overall quality of the retail market. 

At the same time, Beijing has accelerated the renovation and upgrading of established business districts. Major commercial areas, including Zhongguancun, Shuangjing, and the Qianmen–Dashilar area, completed scheduled renewal projects and are seeing steady growth in visitor numbers. In the first three quarters of the year, 60 key business districts recorded a combined footfall of 2.03 billion visits, up 3% year on year. 

A notable feature of Beijing's evolving consumption landscape is the deepening integration of culture, commerce, tourism, sports, and exhibitions. More and more shopping malls are hosting concerts, theater performances, immersive exhibitions, and live music events, transforming retail spaces into all-day lifestyle destinations.