Heritage, modern chic reignite capital's charm

Urban draw

This vibrant local lifestyle and rich cultural flavor are exactly what makes a city appealing to modern travelers, according to industry experts.

Dai Bin, president of the China Tourism Academy, observed that a destination's commercial environment has become a crucial attraction for urban tourism.

He emphasized that visitors are increasingly drawn to a city's everyday vitality and high-quality living spaces rather than just its historical monuments.

While traditional icons like roast duck anchor the city's cultural identity, Beijing's inclusive commercial environment is also expanding its palate to embrace global gastronomy.

A recent international food carnival gathered over 120 premium restaurants representing authentic flavors from 30 different countries and regions.

The event allowed residents and tourists to sample everything from Michelin-starred establishments like the French restaurant Les Morilles to Southeast Asian street food without ever leaving the city.

Visitors could indulge in American burgers, Italian pizzas, Middle Eastern shawarma, and authentic Indian snacks all in one vibrant location.

The carnival also featured a global ingredient exhibition, enabling a dual model of immediate dining and retail purchasing.

Fresh seafood sourced directly from Southeast Asia and premium handmade chocolates from Belgium and Cote d'Ivoire were made readily available to the public.

The success of these immersive dining experiences reflects a broader transformation occurring across Beijing's entire commercial landscape. Moving beyond the culinary scene, the city's retail sector is experiencing a similar renaissance, driven by a booming first-store economy that prioritizes scenario-based shopping.

In recent months, Beijing welcomed nearly 500 first stores and hosted over 500 brand debuts.

Major commercial hubs are seeing a high density of new brand settlements, covering diverse sectors such as dining, fashion, fragrances, and hardcore technology.

For instance, Unitree Robotics, a leading developer of quadruped robots, recently opened its first national direct-operated store in a major shopping mall.

The store allows everyday consumers to interact directly with cutting-edge humanoid robots and robotic dogs, bringing advanced technology out of the lab and into the retail space.

Similarly, a massive 3,700-square-meter immersive aerospace science center has opened to the public in the suburbs, breaking the boundaries of traditional exhibition halls.

This shift perfectly illustrates how high-quality industrial supply is actively defining new consumption patterns, said Li Haitao, a professor at Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business.

Li pointed out that breakthroughs in emerging industries, such as smart robotics and the low-altitude economy, are creating entirely new dimensions of consumer experiences.

As these advanced technologies become more accessible, they transform from exclusive industrial tools into everyday consumer services, potentially sparking a multi-trillion-yuan market.

This supply-driven innovation is not limited to hardcore technology; it is also evident in how traditional aesthetics are being reimagined for modern consumers.

To Summer, a popular domestic oriental fragrance brand, recently transformed a centuries-old courtyard home in a historic alley into an atmospheric, independent boutique.

By preserving the original wooden beams and stone paths, the brand created a retail space that seamlessly intertwines modern lifestyle products with native architectural textures.

Other innovative ventures include composite operating models that offer coffee by day and alcohol by night, perfectly complementing the city's micro-tourism spaces.

These upgraded commercial and cultural offerings, designed to meet the refined tastes of domestic consumers, are simultaneously proving highly attractive to the recovering inbound tourism market.

Supported by favorable visa-free policies and an upgraded departure tax refund system, iconic shopping destinations like Silk Street Market have seen a massive influx of overseas visitors.

The prominent international market hosted over 4.3 million inbound tourists recently, accommodating tens of thousands of international tour groups.

To meet this growing demand, the commercial center has implemented comprehensive shopping coverage in multiple languages, supported by hundreds of multilingual volunteers.

Foreign shoppers can now enjoy highly efficient services, such as custom-tailored suits completed in hours and prescription glasses ready in minutes.

The implementation of upgraded tax refund policies has also led to the establishment of centralized refund points within major shopping districts.

This allows overseas consumers to process their refunds immediately after purchase, significantly enhancing the convenience of their shopping experience.

Financial accessibility has been fully optimized, with universal coverage of foreign credit card terminals and the installation of specialized currency exchange machines.

Digital screens tailored for inbound tourists have been deployed to provide multilingual product explanations and self-service shopping guidance.

Cultural allure

Foreign visitors are increasingly drawn to products that embody traditional Chinese aesthetics, such as silk, porcelain and tea sets.

To enrich the visitor experience commercial hubs are integrating cultural activities like calligraphy, traditional medicine massages, and tea tasting directly into the shopping environment.

This fusion of culture, commerce, and tourism ensures that visitors experience not only the historical continuity of a city, but also its dynamic future.

As Dai of China Tourism Academy highlighted, a successful urban space must operate on the principle of shared enjoyment, creating an environment that pleases locals while attracting visitors from afar.

Meanwhile, Li from CKGSB emphasized that the domestic market's structural changes require businesses to establish highly differentiated products and services rather than relying on uniform solutions.

By weaving together its historical charm with modern commercial vitality, Beijing is crafting a unique narrative that stimulates local economic growth and solidifies its position as a world-class destination.

renqi@chinadaily.com.cn