China Open sees record crowds, boosting consumer spending

The ongoing 2026 China Open has seen its audience hitting historic highs during the National Day holiday in Beijing.

As of Sunday, the tournament has welcomed over 270,000 visitors, marking a 37 percent increase compared to the same period in 2025, according to its organizing committee.

Inside the tournament, for five consecutive days, daily attendance surpassed 35,000, with record-breaking crowds of over 40,000 on Thursday and Friday, it said.

Spectator spending has exceeded 32 million yuan ($4.77 million), with licensed merchandise sales alone accounting for nearly 22 million yuan, significantly surpassing the total for the entire 2025 tournament.

Additionally, food and beverage sales have topped 9 million yuan, while retail sales have exceeded 1.1 million yuan.

Beyond the courts, this year's China Open, which opened on Sept 13, has boosted local shopping enthusiasm by integrating culture, commerce, tourism, and sports.

The event has deepened its full-chain technological partnership with local business giants to launch China Open related activities in leading shopping venues and tourism destinations in Beijing — including the Capital Outlets, 798 Art District, and the South Plaza of the Water Cube, as well as commercial hubs.

By Sunday, these events had attracted nearly 800,000 visitors and generated approximately 150 million yuan in spending, according to the organizing committee.

Additionally, the tournament has pioneered a new avenue for viewing and consumer engagement by partnering with Huaxia Film to introduce cinema viewing experiences throughout the National Day holiday.

The first live broadcast, the "930 Evening Debut", was shown in over 100 cinemas across 28 provinces and cities, reaching major first-tier cities nationwide and Beijing's six urban districts.

In Beijing's Chaoyang and Dongcheng districts, the event has cooperated with nearly 350 merchants to boost offline consumer spending.

For the first time, the tournament introduced officially authorized fan-themed hotels and restaurants.

To date, sales related to China Open-themed hotels have exceeded 500,000 yuan, with occupancy rates during the Golden Week expected to increase by over 15 percent year-on-year.