In 2023, Beijing's cultural and tourism sector, guided by Xi Jinping's Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, has fully implemented the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. It has deeply followed Xi Jinping's cultural thought and his important discourse on cultural and tourism work. Under the leadership of the municipal Party committee and government, the cultural and tourism market has fully recovered, product offerings have continuously enriched, industry upgrades have accelerated, consumer potential has been fully unleashed, and the high-quality development of the capital's cultural and tourism sector has reached a new level.
I. Key Monitoring Unit Overview
(1) Number of Institutions and Employment
In 2023, Beijing had over 35,000 cultural, heritage, and tourism-related businesses. Among these, 6,845 institutions were included in the official statistics, an increase of 949 from the previous year. The number of employees in these institutions reached 249,000, up by 956 individuals. This growth was primarily driven by the rapid recovery of the tourism market, leading to a significant increase in employment.
(2) Fiscal Funding①
In 2023, the total cultural expenditure for institutions under the Beijing cultural, tourism, and heritage departments amounted to 8.37 billion yuan, marking a 25.4% increase from the previous year. Of this, 4.51 billion yuan was allocated to the cultural and tourism departments, and 3.86 billion yuan to the heritage department. The per capita cultural and tourism expenditure reached 383.2 yuan, an increase of 77.8 yuan from the previous year. This includes 206.4 yuan for the cultural and tourism departments and 176.8 yuan for the heritage department.
From 2018 to 2021, Beijing's expenditure on culture, tourism, sports, and media consistently exceeded 22 billion yuan, accounting for more than 3.1% of the general public budget expenditure③. However, in 2022, due to the impact of the pandemic, there was a reduction in major cultural and sports events, decreasing to 20.49 billion yuan, with the share dropping to 2.7%. In the first half of 2023, the expenditure rose to 9.92 billion yuan, reflecting a 14.0% increase. This growth was driven by efforts to prosper and develop cultural undertakings and industries, enhance the construction of public cultural service system demonstration zones, increase support for the protection of cultural heritage along the central axis, and accelerate the construction of the “Bookish Beijing” and “City of Museums.” Additionally, the funding supported various artistic performances and cultural activities, contributing to the rapid recovery of cultural tourism consumption.
II. Strengthening Cultural Confidence
Performing Arts Infuse New Energy into the Capital's Economy
(1) Elevating the Industry with the "City of Performing Arts"
In 2023, the initiative to "focus on building the 'City of Performing Arts'" was included in the government work report for the first time, injecting new vitality into the performing arts economy. World-class foreign performances made their return, allowing Beijing to fully showcase its status as a major global capital and the charm of Chinese culture. High-quality performing arts productions continued to emerge, contributing to a healthy and orderly development of the performing arts ecosystem. The city's role as the national cultural center was significantly enhanced, with large-scale cultural and arts enterprises generating a total revenue of 22.18 billion yuan, marking an 18.9% increase④.
(2) The Performance Market Maintains Its Vitality
In 2023, Beijing's performing arts market experienced a robust recovery, with a total of 49,524 commercial performances, attracting 11.385 million attendees and generating 2.304 billion yuan in box office revenue. Compared to 2019, the number of performances, audience size, and box office revenue increased by 117.0%, 9.5%, and 32.1%, respectively. Compared to 2022, these figures surged by 143.8%, 204.1%, and 266.0%, respectively, reaching historical highs.
Various artistic genres thrived on the capital's stages. Performances in music, drama, and dance saw their numbers, audiences, and box office revenues double. Stand-up comedy shows exceeded 14,000 performances, making up the highest proportion of all shows. Drama and cross-talk performances each surpassed 5,000 shows, with play emerging as the most popular genre in professional theaters. Concerts also experienced a boom, generating the highest box office revenue. Since the first concert in late March, there was at least one concert every week throughout the year, attracting a large number of cross-city audiences and significantly boosting surrounding consumption in tourism, transportation, accommodation, and dining.
Among the nearly 50,000 performances held throughout the year, a significant portion was produced by art performance groups registered in Beijing. These groups brought to the stage remarkable productions such as the Peking opera Shi Pingmei, the Kunqu opera Guofeng, the dramas Martyrs' shrine : the story of the reform movement of 1898 in China and Mutiny , and the dance dramas A tapestry of a legendary land and The Five Stars Rising in the East. High-quality productions from outside Beijing also graced the capital's stages. Notable premieres included the Shanghai drama Returning Home, the Sichuan musical Love Song, and the Ningbo dance drama Oriental Harbor. Internationally acclaimed groups made their return to Beijing, featuring world-renowned ensembles like the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and the Bolshoi Ballet. Popular productions included the musicals Romeo and Juliet and Titanic, and the dramas And Quiet Flows the Don and New Life: Where Shall We Go From Here?. Additionally, several international productions such as the French dramas Tartuffe and Waiting for Godot, the Russian musical Demon Onegin, and the American dance drama Dawn of the Future chose Beijing as the first stop of their China tours. World-famous figure skater Evgeni Plushenko, along with multiple figure skating champions and ballet dancers, performed in the Asian premieres of Swan Lake and The Nutcracker at the National Indoor Stadium, with 10 ice shows. The influence of the "City of Performing Arts" continues to grow.
The "Grand Performances in Beijing" 2023 exhibition season made a significant return, featuring over 100 premium productions and films, both online and offline, with a total viewership exceeding 38 million. The 7th China Peking Opera Culture Week was themed "Grand Opera Amidst Scenic Beauty, An Invitation to the Garden Expo." The 25th and 26th Beijing Music Festivals were held for the first time in a biennial format. The "Dual Olympic City " Stage Arts Performance Season showcased 26 top domestic and international productions across 105 performances. Additionally, the "Beijing Stories" exhibition, which has been running for over a decade, presented 22 outstanding small theater productions in 44 performances throughout the city.
In 2023, over 300 performance spaces hosted commercial performances in Beijing. The Beijing Performing Arts Centre, also known as the "Cultural Granary" in the sub-center, was put into use, joining forces with the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) and the Taihu Stage Art Centre to form a new "One Theater, Three Venues" development framework for the NCPA. With a total building area exceeding 400,000 square meters, 11 theaters, and more than 13,000 seats, the NCPA has become the world's largest theater complex operated by a single entity in the same city. The Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Center set new records in 2023 with nearly 1,000 performances and a total box office revenue of 160 million yuan. The expansion of China's two largest theater chains continued, with Poly Theatre and CPAA Theatres adding the Beijing Comedy Theatre and the Zhuhai Jinwan Civic Art Centre to their networks. These chains now operate nearly 200 venues nationwide, hosting over 10,000 performances annually, bringing professional theater management and high-level artistic performances to audiences across the country. The Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism introduced the Beijing Performing Arts Service Platform Project Funding Management Measures to support and nurture performance spaces. The first batch of 15 projects included venues like the Jixiang Theatre, Zhengyici Theater, Star Theatre, Damai New Space, and Happy Mahua Immersive Performance Space. Additionally, pilot programs for new performance spaces were initiated in Dongcheng, Chaoyang, Xicheng, and Tongzhou districts, recognizing or designating 29 district-level performance spaces such as the Print Guild Hall, Time Theater, and Oriental Art Space.
(3) Cultural and Tourism Department-Affiliated Performance Troupes
In 2023, the three art performance troupes under the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism held a total of 1,174 offline performances, marking a 57.6% increase compared to the previous year. These performances attracted 560,000 attendees, a 51.4% increase, and generated a revenue of 63.86 million yuan, up by 55.8%. Additionally, 54 performances were live-streamed online, drawing 16.89 million online viewers .
Municipal art troupes⑥and the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) launched 30 newly created commercial performance productions⑦and revived 43 existing ones. These included newly created red culture works such as the opera Ying Shan Hong and the drama Beiping 1948, as well as Beijing-flavored cultural works like the drama Under the Red Flag. Additionally, they presented productions that showcased traditional Chinese culture, such as the Peking opera Qi Baishi and the Kunqu opera Between Trees and Grass. Historical dramas like Zhang Juzheng (a drama) and Ying Si and Shang Yang (a Peking opera), which delve deeply into the course of Chinese civilization and infuse it with contemporary aesthetics, were also created. Private theater companies introduced dramas such as Before the Court and Border Town, the dance drama Beijing Sonata, and the musical The Awakening Age. These efforts actively promoted Beijing as a premier stage for the "first performances and debuts" of outstanding domestic and international works.
III. Enhancing Service Efficiency
Enriching the Cultural and Spiritual Life of Beijing Citizens
(1) Strengthening Top-Level Design and Improving the Legal and Policy Framework
On January 1, 2023, the Beijing Public Cultural Service Guarantee Ordinance came into effect. All districts and departments across the city quickly initiated efforts to study and implement the ordinance. As a result, the service capacity and quality of public cultural service facilities at all levels significantly improved.
Shunyi District, Miyun District, and Yanqing District were established as the first batch of demonstration zones for the Beijing Public Cultural Service System.
(2) Public Libraries Making Joint Efforts Online and Offline
Beijing Library has been completed and put into use. It boasts the world's largest single-library reading room and the largest intelligent vertical book repository in China, contributing to the high-quality development of the city's sub-center. A total of 332 new public cultural spaces have been built, and 72 "Jingji Great Wall" National Scenic Route signs have been set up at 62 locations.
By the end of 2023, Beijing had a total of 19 municipal and district public libraries (excluding the National Library), with a total circulation of 14.73 million people, an increase of 117%; the number of book and document loans reached 2.09 million, an increase of 67%; and the number of book and document loans reached 10.15 million volumes, an increase of 76% (see Table 4). The capacity to provide digital cultural activities has been continuously enhanced, with the total volume of digital resources in libraries reaching 3,080 TB and the total number of e-books reaching 15.672 million volumes (see Table 4).
Table 4: Comparison of Core Indicators of Public Libraries Under the Culture and Tourism Departments in Beijing
(III) Diverse and Vibrant Public Cultural Activities
A total of 16,000 cultural events were organized for the citizens of the capital, centered around traditional festivals such as the Spring Festival, Lantern Festival, Qingming, Dragon Boat Festival, Qixi Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, Labor Day, and National Day, under the theme of "Our Programs" for public cultural activities. By the end of 2023, there were 1 municipal-level cultural center, 17 district-level cultural centers, and 339 street (township) comprehensive cultural centers in Beijing. A total of 36,000 literary and artistic activities were organized, with 4.395 million participants. There were 59,000 training sessions, training a total of 1.922 million people. A total of 1,646 exhibitions were held, attracting 1.153 million visitors. 785 public lectures were organized, with 97,000 attendees (see Table 5). The Beijing sub-venue of China Tourism Day and the "Tourism into Communities, Joy into Every Home" event were successfully held, with more than 200 units from 14 categories participating in cultural and tourism markets, and 502 activities promoting benefits for the people were launched.
Table 5: 2023 Overview of Public Cultural Institutions and Activities
IV. New Achievements in Cultural Heritage Protection and Utilization
1. New Developments in Central Axis World Heritage Application, Cultural Relics Protection, and Archaeology
Focusing on the key tasks of constructing the national cultural center, such as "one axis, one city; two gardens, three belts; one district, one center," solid progress has been made in the implementation of various annual key tasks, and new achievements and progress have been continuously made in the cultural and cultural relic undertakings of the capital. By the end of 2023, there were 3,840 registered and announced immovable cultural relics in Beijing. Among them, there were 135 national key cultural relic protection units, 257 municipal-level cultural relic protection units, and 873 district and county-level cultural relic protection units. The number of municipal-level cultural relic protection units increased by 2 compared to the previous year, and the number of district-level cultural relic protection units increased by 120.
The Beijing Central Axis Protection and Management Plan (2022-2035) was officially announced. The Chinese main event for International Day for Monuments and Sites was held, and the annual report Beijing Central Axis: Cultural Heritage and Urban Sustainable Development was published. The Guiding Mechanism for Public Participation in the Protection and Inheritance of Cultural Heritage of the Beijing Central Axis (Trial) and the Management Measures for Cultural Heritage Supervisors of the Beijing Central Axis (Trial) were issued.
The creation of the "Three Hills and Five Gardens" National Cultural Heritage Protection and Utilization Demonstration Area passed the evaluation and acceptance process, with all creation tasks successfully completed. The area was awarded the title of "National Cultural Heritage Protection and Utilization Demonstration Area" by the National Cultural Heritage Administration. The Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection and Utilization Demonstration Area Construction Plan and the Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection and Utilization Demonstration Area Creation Management Measures (Trial) were compiled and released.
Efforts to protect, inherit, and utilize cultural relics and monuments along the Grand Canal Cultural Belt have been well executed, including the archaeological excavation of the site of the ancient city of Luxian and the Ryukyu people’s cemetery. The basic construction and exhibition setup of the Grand Canal Museum of Beijing (Capital Museum East Branch) were completed, and the museum was opened to the public by the end of 2023. Restoration and environmental improvement projects were carried out for cultural relics such as the Yangyunxuan Courtyard in the Summer Palace, the Zhangjiawan site of the Grand Canal, and the Tongyun Bridge. The annual tasks for the construction of the Great Wall Cultural Belt (Great Wall National Cultural Park) were advanced, with a focus on three national-level landmark projects: the renovation and upgrading of the China Great Wall Museum, the restoration of the Jiankou Great Wall, and the Beijing Great Wall Cultural Festival. Additionally, seven municipal-level landmark projects, including the “Jingji Great Wall” National Scenic Route, were implemented. The key tasks for the construction of the Xishan Yongding River Cultural Belt continued to progress, with events such as the 2023 Beijing Xishan Yongding River Cultural Festival, Jingxi Mountain Water Carnival, Xishan Folk Culture Festival, and the Fourth Yongding River Cultural Forum and New National Gateway Cultural Forum. The Jinyu Liuli Cultural and Creative Industry Park successfully opened, and the Shougang Industrial Heritage Revitalization Project was selected as one of the "Top Ten Cases of High-Quality Development in the Cultural Heritage Sector" nationwide.
The Xin'gong Site and the Jinzhongdu Guangyuanli Site have been designated as major projects with significant progress under the "Archaeology China" initiative. The first batch of Beijing Archaeological Site Parks has been evaluated and approved. Specialized archaeological surveys and research were conducted at the Donghulin Site in Mentougou District. The related archaeological excavation work for the protection and restoration of enemy towers 60-64 and the boundary wall between enemy towers 59-64 along the Great Wall in Yanqing was completed. The construction of Phase I of the Liuli River National Archaeological Site Park is ongoing. The Yuanmingyuan Stone Pillar Return Exhibition and the 2023 Beijing Public Archaeology Season event were held.
(2) New Developments in the Construction of "Museum City"
By the end of 2023, there were 226 registered museums within Beijing's administrative region, an increase of 11 from the previous year. Of these, 68 are centrally-administered, 54 are municipal, 50 are district-level, and 54 are non-state-owned.
According to the cultural relics statistics database, by the end of 2023, the city's cultural relics institutions held a total of 1.098 million cultural relics items(sets), with museums holding 1.017 million cultural relics items(sets), accounting for 92.6% of the total. Cultural relics protection and management institutions held 20,678 cultural relics (items/sets), accounting for 1.9%. Among these relics, there are 3,915 first-class relics, 13,982 second-class relics, and 406,807 third-class relics.
In 2023, cultural relics institutions across the city held a total of 644 exhibitions, an increase of 161 from the previous year. This included 297 permanent exhibitions (an increase of 10) and 268 temporary exhibitions (a decrease of 72). The total number of visitors was 41.368 million, a 2.8-fold increase from the previous year. Among them, 6.739 million were minors, representing a 2-fold increase and accounting for 16.3% of the total number of visitors. Museums specifically hosted 27.608 million visitors, a 2-fold increase, making up 66.7% of the total visitors to cultural relics institutions.
Strengthening the top-level design of the "Museum City," the Beijing Museum City Construction and Development Plan (2024-2035) has been preliminarily completed. To increase cultural supply, 27 “museum-like” institutions have been opened. Museums in the city have organized and hosted special exhibitions and cultural activities around traditional festivals and key periods such as summer and winter vacations. The first Beijing Museum Activity Month was held, featuring events like the "Museum 'Hundred-Thousand-Ten Thousand' Beneficiary Activities" and the "Museum Extended Opening Month." Efforts to advance museum digitalization include the establishment of Beijing's first “museum-like” institution focused on “digital collections,” and the official launch of the "Beijing Museum Cloud" WeChat mini-program. The Beijing Cultural and Museum Derivative Product Innovation Incubation Center added over 4,500 new cultural and creative design works this year and issued more than 1,900 digital copyright registration certificates. Several cultural institutions have used the platform to connect and collaborate with high-quality creative enterprises. The 2023 China International Fair for Trade in Services featured a cultural and creative exhibition zone, where over 40 museums and creative enterprises in Beijing showcased nearly 2,000 new cultural and creative products. The 2023 Beijing Cultural and Creative Design Competition was held, with more than 19,000 entries collected across four major themes. The Beijing Museum Cultural and Creative Product Exhibition Center officially opened, bringing together nearly 100 cultural institutions and thousands of creative products, creating a “museum cultural and creative reception hall” in Beijing.
(3) New Dynamics in the Cultural Relics and Artifacts Trading Center
In 2023, Beijing hosted a total of 3,995 cultural relics and art auctions, featuring 245,000 items/sets of relics, with a total transaction amount reaching 22.51 billion RMB. Compared to the previous year, the number of auctions increased by 18%, while the number of auctioned items and transaction amount grew by 33.3% and 143.2%, respectively, indicating a clear recovery trend in the auction market.
Efforts to foster market participants in cultural relics trading continued, with the online auction system's review and commitment mechanism in place. Over 3,600 auction events and 220,000 items/sets of relics were reviewed, leading to increased market activity. Innovations included designating the Capital Museum and three other institutions as regular public service organizations for relics appraisal, conducting more than 50 public appraisal events. Several senior experts provided appraisal services for over 3,000 items from more than 1,800 citizens. Two major industry seminars were held: "Empowering Relics and Artifacts Trading through Technology" and "Prospects for Folk Relics and Artifacts Collecting," continuing to amplify Beijing's voice. The 2023 Beijing China Cultural Relics International Expo attracted over 3 million visitors through 10 key activities. The "2023 Golden Autumn Cultural Relics and Art Auction Month" featured nearly 100 auction events and 17,000 items/sets, with over 130,000 participants both online and offline. Additionally, a pioneering national policy for "One-time Handling of Temporary Import and Export Procedures for Cultural Relics" was smoothly implemented, advancing the construction tasks for the "Two Zones" and international consumer center cities .
(4) Strengthening Protection and Inheritance, Fully Showcasing the Charm of Intangible Cultural Heritage
As of the end of 2023, Beijing had a total of 87 national-level representative inheritors of intangible cultural heritage and 227 municipal-level representative inheritors. There were 144 national-level representative projects and 303 municipal-level representative projects of intangible cultural heritage. Measures were introduced to further strengthen the protection of intangible cultural heritage, and the management methods for the identification and management of municipal-level representative inheritors of intangible cultural heritage were issued. The system of the Beijing Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Joint Conference was adjusted and improved. A series of visual communication systems for the dissemination of intangible cultural heritage were created, including the design and use of the first Beijing intangible cultural heritage logo and representative project icons. The 2023 Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritor Training Program was implemented. The first public welfare intangible cultural heritage experience center at the municipal level was established, leveraging Beijing's rich intangible cultural heritage resources to provide immersive experiences for visitors to feel the style and characteristics of Beijing and experience the beauty of Beijing's intangible cultural heritage. The inaugural Beijing International Intangible Cultural Heritage Week was innovatively organized, bringing together representatives from nearly 1,000 individuals from 39 countries and showcasing over 3,000 exhibits and artworks. The main venue of the third Belt and Road International Cooperation Forum held in Beijing featured a well-organized intangible cultural heritage exhibition, which received a warm welcome from political leaders of various countries.
V. Continued Expansion of the Cultural Industry
(1) Rapid Growth of the Cultural Industry
In 2023, the total revenue of Beijing's large-scale cultural industries reached 2.06383 trillion RMB, marking a 13.6% increase, with a total profit of 261.43 billion RMB, representing a 33.6% growth. The cultural industry experienced rapid growth. By sector, the core cultural sectors generated a total revenue of 1.87219 trillion RMB, up 13.9%, contributing 92.4% to the overall growth of the city's cultural industry revenue. The related cultural sectors achieved a total revenue of 191.63 billion RMB, growing by 10.8%, indicating the prosperous development of cultural market operating institutions (see Table 7). In 2022, the value added by Beijing's cultural industry was 470.03 billion RMB, calculated at current prices, representing a 4.2% increase from the previous year, which is 1.5 percentage points higher than the national growth rate. The cultural industry's contribution to the city's GDP increased by 0.3 percentage points year-on-year to 11.3%, further solidifying Beijing's status as a national cultural center.
Dongcheng District successfully established the first batch of National Cultural and Financial Cooperation Demonstration Zones. Dongcheng District and Chaoyang District were included in the list for the construction of National Cultural and Tourism Industry Integration Development Demonstration Zones. Pinggu District and Mentougou District were selected as part of the first batch of National Cultural Industry Empowerment Rural Revitalization Pilot Areas.
(2) New Breakthroughs in the Construction of the "Two Zones" and Business Environment Reforms
“The delegation of approval authority for foreign investment in establishing performance venues, entertainment venues, and internet service venues to the district level, along with the delegation of approval authority for foreign investment in establishing art performance groups (with Chinese majority ownership) to Tongzhou District”, was included in the 2.0 version of Beijing's Comprehensive Demonstration Zone for Expanding the Opening-Up of the Service Industry. Industry management was further standardized, with active promotion of the integrated handling of large-scale commercial performance activities and the "One Industry, One License" reform, making large concert management a national benchmark. Additionally, the approval authority for foreign investment in establishing art performance groups (with Chinese majority ownership) was delegated to Tongzhou District. A commitment system was implemented for the approval of foreign investors (including those from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan) establishing performance brokerage agencies in the city's Free Trade Zone to engage in commercial performance activities.
(3) Prosperous Development of Cultural Market Operating Institutions
In 2023, the revenue scale of cultural market operating institutions expanded. Specifically, internet culture business units achieved an operating income of 440.89 billion RMB, reflecting a 1.3% increase, while performance brokerage agencies realized an operating income of 337.54 billion RMB, marking a 12.1% growth. The business operations of entertainment venues, internet service providers, art performance groups, and performance venue operators gradually recovered, with both the number of employees and operating income experiencing significant growth (see Table 8).
Table 8: Key Indicators of Cultural Market Operating Institutions in 2023
VI. Rapid Recovery of the Tourism Market and
Significant Effects of Holiday Economy
In 2023, the city received 329 million visitors, an increase of 80.2%, and a 2.0% increase compared to 2019, with a recovery rate 20.6 percentage points higher than the national average. Tourism revenue reached 584.97 billion RMB, growing by 132.1%, recovering to 94.0% of 2019 levels, and surpassing the national recovery rate by 8.2 percentage points. The per capita expenditure was 1,778.0 RMB per visit, a 28.6% increase, recovering to 92.0% of 2019 levels. The number of tourism industry employees was 986,000, a decrease of 1.0 percentage point.
(1) Recovery of Out-of-Province Tourism at About 95%, Local Tourism Better Than 2019
1. Significant Increase in Visitors from Other Provinces
In 2023, Beijing received 181 million visitors from other provinces (excluding Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan), marking a 118.4% increase and recovering to 94.0% of 2019 levels. Tourism revenue from these visitors reached 509.38 billion RMB, an increase of 140.2%, and recovered to 96.0% of 2019 levels. Visitors from other provinces accounted for 87.1% of the total tourism revenue. The per capita expenditure was 2,814.3 RMB per visit, a 10.1% increase and 2.2% higher than in 2019.
From the perspective of visitor origins, Hebei, Shandong, and Henan were the top three sources, accounting for 23.5%, 7.7%, and 6.1% of out-of-province visitors to Beijing, respectively. By region, visitors from North China made up 38.1%; East China visitors accounted for 23.3%; Northeast China visitors represented 11.8%; Central China visitors comprised 10.7%; Southwest China visitors were 5.4%; South China visitors made up 6.0%; and Northwest China visitors constituted 4.7%. The average travel distance for visitors increased by 79.4 kilometers compared to the previous year.
In terms of spending composition for visitors from other provinces to Beijing, shopping accounted for the highest proportion at 31.1%. Dining and accommodation were nearly equal, at 16.3% and 15.9%, respectively. Long-distance transportation made up 12.6%, sightseeing accounted for 10.6%, and cultural and entertainment activities comprised 9.9% (see Figure 1).
Figure 1: Consumption Composition of Out-of-Province Visitors to Beijing in 2023
2. Local Tourism Exceeds 2019 Levels
In 2023, Beijing received 146 million local tourists, an increase of 47.5%, and a 16.3% rise compared to 2019. Tourism revenue reached 63.74 billion RMB, growing by 72.0%, and up 14.0% from 2019. The per capita expenditure was 436.6 RMB per visit, a 16.8% increase, recovering to 98.1% of 2019 levels.
In terms of spending composition, shopping and dining were the top categories, accounting for 29.4% and 28.1%, respectively. Sightseeing and cultural activities were in third and fourth place, comprising 14.5% and 10.6%, respectively. Local transportation made up 10.0%, and accommodation accounted for 5.8% (see Figure 2).
Figure 2: Consumption Composition of Local Tourism in Beijing in 2023
(2) Gradual Recovery of the Inbound Tourism Market
In 2023, Beijing hosted 1.168 million overnight international tourists (see Table 9), an increase of 384.8% from the previous year, recovering to 31.0% of 2019 levels. International tourism revenue reached 1.66 billion USD, a growth of 275.7% (equivalent to 11.85 billion RMB, an increase of 304.0%), recovering to 31.9% of 2019 levels. Per capita expenditure was 1,421.2 USD per visit, a decrease of 22.3% from the previous year but an increase of 3.1% compared to 2019 (see Table 9).
Table 9: Inbound Overnight Tourist Statistics for Beijing in 2023
(3) Rapid Recovery of the Outbound Tourism Market
In 2023, travel agencies organized a total of 363,000 outbound trips to the first destination, recovering to 74.8% of the 2019 level. The total number of outbound trips to all destinations reached 414,000 (see Table 10).
Table 10: Outbound Tourism Statistics Organized by Travel Agencies in 2023
(4) Strong Recovery Trend in the Holiday Cultural and Tourism Market
For the key monitored holidays—Spring Festival, May Day, and National Day—the recovery trends show continuous improvement. During the Spring Festival holiday, tourism reception numbers recovered to 87.8% of 2019 levels, tourism revenue recovered to 91.2%, and per capita expenditure increased by 3.8% compared to 2019. During the May Day holiday, all three indicators saw substantial year-on-year growth, with increases of 6.6%, 13.9%, and 6.8% compared to 2019. The National Day holiday set new records for the three core indicators, with increases of 12.9%, 21.9%, and 8.0% compared to 2019.
VII. Significant “Tourism+” Effect
Strong Development Momentum in the Industry
(1) Improvement in Main Tourism Business Types
1. Rapid Growth in Travel Agencies
In March 2023, the General Office of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism issued a notice on the Restoration of Travel Agencies' Operation of Foreign Inbound Group Tours. Additionally, travel agencies’operations for Chinese citizens traveling in groups to relevant countries and regions were restored in three phases. These measures accelerated the recovery of travel agency businesses.
A survey of 1,450 key travel agencies showed that their total assets amounted to 46.37 billion RMB, an increase of 30.4%. They achieved operating revenue of 54.79 billion RMB, a growth of 237.9%. Total profits were 4.67 billion RMB, turning from a loss to a profit compared to the previous year. The number of employees was 19,000, a 19.9% increase.
In 2023, travel agencies organized 4.668 million tourist visits, a growth of 150.0%, and received 4.275 million tourists, a remarkable increase of 953.6%.
The notice Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism on Extending the Supplementary Period for Tourism Service Quality Assurance Deposits was issued. It coordinated with relevant banks to temporarily return 1.348 billion RMB in quality assurance deposits to 2,666 travel agencies across the city with policy needs. This measure effectively alleviated the operational difficulties faced by travel agencies.
2. Rapid Recovery of the Accommodation Industry
In 2023, the total assets of 1,159 key accommodation establishments in Beijing amounted to 133.73 billion RMB, an increase of 3.1%. They achieved operating revenue of 45.11 billion RMB, a growth of 65.1%. Profits turned positive, reaching 3.45 billion RMB. The number of employees was 97,000, a 2.1% increase.
The accommodation industry hosted 39.702 million guests in 2023, a growth of 116.6%, recovering to 89.8% of 2019 levels. The average room occupancy rate was 64.4%, up by 25.6 percentage points. The average room rate was 534.4 RMB per night, an increase of 2.8%. High-star and non-star hotels saw more noticeable price increases. The average room rate for five-star hotels in 2023 was 825.5 RMB per night, up by 4%. Non-star hotels had an average room rate of 504.4 RMB per night, an increase of 0.9%.
3. Significant Increase in Visitors to Scenic Spots and Sightseeing Gardens
In 2023, the 258 key monitored scenic spots in Beijing (excluding Universal Studios) received a total of 414 million visitors, a growth of 101.1%, and 30.6% higher than in 2019. Among these, 284 million were free admissions, an increase of 90.6%. Revenue from 75 public institutions amounted to 10.7 billion RMB, a growth of 27.9%, while 183 corporate units achieved a total operating revenue of 9.7 billion RMB, an increase of 48.2%. The Optimization Plan for Tourist Attraction Reservations was issued, eliminating the reservation requirement for 155 scenic spots, accounting for 95% of the total.
In 2023, 1,044 sightseeing gardens in the city received 9.362 million visitors, an increase of 32.4%, with total revenue reaching 2.12 billion RMB, up by 15.4%. Additionally, 7,738 rural tourism businesses (households) hosting folk customs and homestays welcomed 12.739 million visitors, a growth of 17.9%, and achieved revenue of 1.5 billion RMB, an increase of 9.1%.
(2) Enhancing Quality and Efficiency in Tourism through Supply-Side Efforts
The 4th Beijing Cultural and Tourism Key Project Investment and Financing Matching Conference was held, with a total investment of 13.5 billion yuan. Beijing Bank initiated a new round of strategic cooperation and plans to provide a targeted credit line of 30 billion yuan to cultural and tourism enterprises in Beijing over the next five years. Efforts were made to promote post-disaster recovery and reconstruction in the cultural and tourism industry, and the City-level Fund Support Plan for Post-Disaster Recovery and Reconstruction of the Tourism Industry was formulated. The potential for cultural and tourism consumption was further unleashed with the first release of 29 projects to expand new consumer incentives in the cultural and tourism sector, with a reward fund of 18.95 million yuan. The first Beijing International Cultural and Tourism Consumption Expo achieved sales of 162 million yuan. A total of 114 themed tourism routes under the theme of "Strolling in Beijing" and the second batch of "Beijing Micro-Vacation" destinations were launched. Fifteen new "Beijing Gift" stores were designated, and cross-border cooperation with well-known IPs resulted in the launch of "Beijing Limited Edition Gift Boxes". The Opinions on Standardizing and Guiding the Development of Tent Camping Sites (Trial) and the Action Plan for Upgrading the Quality of Rural Tourism (2023-2025) were introduced and implemented. Four rural homestays were included in the national A-level and B-level tourism homestay lists. Guidelines for regulating tourist reception in core scenic areas were implemented, and significant progress was made in reducing tourist density in core areas. Overall planning was carried out for the intelligent development of the cultural and tourism sectors, and substantial progress was made in the construction of smart cultural and tourism platforms. The Beijing (Tongzhou) Grand Canal Cultural Tourism Scenic Area successfully achieved a national 5A-level tourism scenic spot status. Beihai Park and Badaling Great Wall Scenic Area were selected as the second batch of national civilized tourism demonstration units.
(3) Technological Tourism Development: Emergence of Innovative Application Scenarios
Cutting-edge technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence, big data, cloud computing, and virtual reality have injected fresh vitality into the cultural and tourism industries. These technologies have comprehensively enhanced the operational efficiency and consumer experience in culture and tourism, leading to the emergence of new industry segments, models, experiences, and scenarios. To stimulate technological innovation in the cultural and tourism sectors, a selection was held for the “Outstanding Cases of Cultural and Tourism Technology Innovation Applications in Beijing.” The “Top Ten Cases” of 2023 were showcased at the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), providing demonstrations and benchmarks for technology applications in the cultural and tourism fields. This effort supports the integration of “technology + culture and tourism” and guides the high-quality development of the cultural and tourism industry in the capital.
VIII. Emphasizing Brand Leadership
Cultural and tourism exchanges highlight the capital's style.
The reception services at the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation reflected Beijing's service standards. The World Tourism Cities Federation and the Pacific Asia Travel Association signed a memorandum of cooperation, which was included in the practical outcomes of the Third Belt and Road Forum. Events such as "Happy Spring Festival," the Beijing International Music Festival, and the Beijing New Year Countdown were held. Promotional activities under the theme "Canal Pearl, Charming Beijing-Yong" were conducted in Serbia, Bulgaria, and Greece. In Angola, Qatar, and Morocco, "Hello, Beijing" cultural and tourism exchange events were organized to showcase the image of a major capital in the new era. "Tea and the World" theme flash events featuring zodiac themes were held in Brussels, Belgium, and Athens, Greece. Efforts were accelerated to promote high-quality development of cultural and tourism integration in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, with the release and implementation of China's first regional self-driving service standard, Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Self-Driving Station Service Standards. The development of the Beijing-Zhangjiakou sports and cultural tourism belt was advanced, with the 2023 Beijing-Zhangjiakou Ice and Snow Culture Tourism Season and the release of the first Beijing-Zhangjiakou winter skiing and ice play map.
① The financial investment content here only includes the funding for municipal units and does not cover data from central units based in Beijing.
② Per capita cultural and tourism expenditure = (Fiscal appropriations budget for cultural and tourism enterprises and institutions - infrastructure funding) / resident population. The resident population of Beijing in 2023 is 21.85 million.
③ Data source: Beijing Municipal Finance Bureau.
④ Data source: Beijing Municipal Bureau of Statistics.
⑤ A total of 3 institutions, including the Jingju Theater Company of Beijing, The Northern Kunqu Opera Theatre, and the Beijing Symphony Orchestra.
⑥ A total of 13 institutions, including 3 troupes under the Municipal Cultural and Tourism Bureau, 9 troupes under Beijing Performance and Arts Group, and Beijing People's Art Theatre.
⑦ Refers to newly created commercial performance productions.
⑧ Data in the table sourced from the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Statistics.
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