UNESCO recognition drives dining boom along Beijing Central Axis

(China Daily) Beijing’s Central Axis recently achieved UNESCO recognition, drawing widespread acclaim and fueling a flourishing culinary scene with nearly 10,000 dining establishments lining the historic stretch.

According to the online service platform Meituan, data reveals that searches for “Beijing Central Axis” surged by 58 percent year-on-year from January to July. In the first half of this year, consumption from visitors to Beijing contributed 10.5 percent to the capital’s restaurant sector.

During the same period, Beijing led the country in consumer spending, welcoming nearly 100 million out-of-town visitors, marking a substantial 35 percent increase from the previous year.

The 3rd Beijing Central Axis Food Culture Festival, organized by the Beijing Culinary Association and Meituan under the guidance of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Commerce and the Beijing Municipal Administration of Cultural Heritage, will last from Aug 28 to Sep 17.

The “2024 Beijing Central Axis Food Map” will be published during the festival on Dianping.