Beijing joins World Cities Culture Forum

Beijing is the latest city to join World Cities Culture Forum’s global network of over 40 creative cities. 

With over 3,000 years of cultural heritage, eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and a dynamic creative economy, the Chinese capital brings a unique cultural perspective to the Forum. 

Beijing will collaborate with cities like London, New York, Paris, Tokyo and São Paulo to exchange innovative cultural strategies that improve the lives of their citizens. 

It joins fellow Chinese city partners—Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Nanjing—adding its voice to the growing global dialogue on how culture shapes sustainable city development. 

Beijing will contribute data and cultural insights to the upcoming World Cities Culture Report 2025—the most comprehensive global dataset on culture and cities. 

About Beijing 

As China’s capital city, Beijing stands at the intersection of ancient heritage and contemporary creativity. The city is advancing ambitious cultural policies to preserve its traditions while driving innovation and expanding cultural access for all citizens. 

At the core of Beijing’s cultural strategy is public participation. In 2024 alone, the city held more than 16,000 cultural activities aligned with major traditional and modern holidays—from the Spring Festival to National Day—reaching communities across all districts through both online and offline platforms. Events like the “Jingcai New Year Lantern Carnival” exemplify the city’s growing cultural tourism economy, drawing 190,000 tourists and generating over 15.7 million RMB in revenue. These efforts are supported by a robust cultural infrastructure: 7,176 public cultural facilities now cover 99% of the city, establishing a “15-minute cultural service circle” that brings arts and heritage within easy reach of residents. 

Beijing’s 2025 cultural agenda is equally ambitious. A three-year action plan to preserve the Beijing Central Axis, recently inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, underscores the city’s commitment to safeguarding its historical urban core. The plan complements broader efforts to enhance the protection and activation of cultural landmarks like the Great Wall, the Grand Canal, and the Jingxi Ancient Road, while expanding initiatives such as the Xishan-Yongding River Cultural Belt. 

Performing arts are a major focus in Beijing’s cultural vision. With 57,000 commercial performances and over 12.8 million attendees in 2024, the city is solidifying its position as a “Capital of Performing Arts.” Clusters in areas like Wangfujing and Sanlitun are becoming vibrant performance districts, supported by initiatives like “Bravo to Beijing” and the “Superior Audio-visual Beijing” campaigns. The Beijing Music Festival and the Beijing International Film Festival further position the city as a global platform for cultural exchange. 

Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) practices are deeply woven into the urban fabric. The city’s first ICH experience center, based in a traditional Siheyuan courtyard, offers year-round exhibitions and workshops. Signature crafts—such as cloisonné, Beijing embroidery, and opera mask painting—are regularly showcased during public festivals and international forums. The inaugural Beijing International Intangible Cultural Heritage Week in 2023 welcomed projects from 39 countries, affirming Beijing’s role in global heritage dialogue. 

From the Forbidden City to the Temple of Heaven, and from Olympic landmarks like the Bird’s Nest to cutting-edge venues like the National Centre for the Performing Arts, Beijing blends legacy and innovation. Its cultural policies are designed not only to preserve the past, but also to inspire a future where tradition and creativity thrive together.