Beijing concert boom draws music fans from nationwide

Concerts in Beijing have surged this summer and attracted audiences from nationwide, sparking a fresh wave of urban consumerism and bringing new vitality to the city's economy.

Despite temperatures soaring to nearly 36 C in the capital, numerous fans arrived early at the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, to watch performances by Chinese singer Xue Zhiqian, whose six shows in Beijing in late July were part of his world tour.

Besides Xue's concerts, renowned artists such as Andy Lau, Zhang Jie and Da Zhangwei have performed or plan to hold concerts in Beijing this summer, attracting tens of thousands of visitors from across the country.

Gao Ge, a student at Beijing International Studies University, attended one of Xue's concerts on July 20.

"In addition to concert tickets, I also bought some souvenirs like mini fans featuring the singer's image. And inside the venue, I bought cold drinks to better enjoy the concert," said Gao.

According to statistics from Beijing State-Owned Assets Management Co, the operator of the National Stadium, it is estimated that a total of 1.8 million people will have attended concerts at the stadium between May and the end of August — approximately three times as many as during the same period last year.

Since the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022, the three major Olympic venues — the National Stadium, the National Aquatics Center and the National Speed Skating Oval — have cumulatively hosted more than 9 million visitors and held hundreds of large-scale cultural and sporting events, according to the company.

The large influx of visitors has boosted consumption in the surrounding area. Many tourists choose to dine at nearby restaurants and purchase light sticks, fans, towels and banners from nearby stalls. Some vendors also offer services like hairstyling and makeup for fans.

"Large-scale concerts stand out as a special driver of the economy, characterized by their flexibility," Zhang Haijun, head of the Beijing Performing Arts and Entertainment Association, was quoted by Beijing Daily as saying. "Unlike fixed landmarks in the cultural and tourism sector, concerts can be staged in existing large venues, which means lower costs and a higher economic yield."

He added that Beijing has been enhancing its services for concert attendees, and major commercial areas surrounding venues can accommodate significant foot traffic, providing a better consumer experience.

"The cultural and tourism authorities can make plans to transform individual concert events into cultural activities, fostering a lasting and beneficial impact on the city's performing industry," Zhang said.

For audience members, attending a concert is not just about music, but also about enjoying the company of friends.

Cheng Ruisi, a graduate student in Beijing, said, "Besides seeing my idols, I can get together with my friends and relax before starting my studies and work."

Traveling to Beijing specifically for concerts has become a new trend. According to online ticket purchase platform Moretickets, 87 percent of those who bought tickets for singer Xue's six concerts were from outside of Beijing, a significant increase compared with previous concerts.

Zhang Weifeng, who is from Huludao, Liaoning province, said: "I am a fan of the band The Landlord's Cats. I came here to experience the live atmosphere and see my idols. Ever since I bought the ticket, I counted down the days, eagerly awaiting the moment when I could be here."

To see his favorite band in June, Zhang traveled six hours by train to Beijing.

Statistics from a Beijing Daily report showed that in 2023, large-scale concerts nationwide with audiences exceeding 5,000 amassed box office revenue of 14.6 billion yuan ($2.01 billion). Throughout that year, more than 2,400 performances attracted a total of more than 20 million attendees. Concerts that generated over 10 million yuan per show accounted for 39 percent of the total.

Li Boyu and Zhu Sidi contributed to this story.