How Chinese cities are redefining urban culture in a time of global uncertainty

The 5th edition of the World Cities Culture Report – the most comprehensive source of cultural policy and data – highlights a growing global shift: as cities grapple with economic volatility, climate pressure and rapid technological change, culture is emerging as a quiet yet powerful stabilizer. 

Nowhere is this more visible than in China, where major cities are positioning culture not as an accessory to urban development, but as core infrastructure driving innovation, tourism and long-term growth.

Culture at the core of urban strategy

Globally, cities generate more than 80% of GDP and account for 70% of carbon emissions. As their economic and environmental responsibilities grow, so does the need for more resilient and inclusive urban systems. In this context, the report positions culture as essential urban infrastructure – one that supports economic resilience, social inclusion and environmental sustainability.

Additionally, the findings show that culture and creativity account for 3.1% of global output and 6.2% of employment. But its role extends beyond economics. In China, cities are embedding culture into long-term planning – from Beijing's heritage governance to Chengdu's digital creative economy and Nanjing's 24-hour cultural model – moving it beyond museums and performance halls into everyday urban life.

Beijing, for example, home to more than 21 million residents and eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, has built its cultural strategy around accessibility and preservation. The city's "15-minute cultural service circle" ensures that nearly all residents live within easy reach of cultural facilities.

In 2024 alone, Beijing hosted more than 65,000 performances and welcomed 372 million cultural tourists – this alone underscores the growing link between cultural governance and economic vitality.

Digital innovation meets tradition

The report highlights East Asia – particularly China – as a global leader in embedding digital technologies into cultural policy. 

In Guangzhou, China's historic southern gateway to the world, initiatives such as the Spring Festival Flower Market – recognized as national intangible cultural heritage – now incorporate drone light shows, themed night markets and immersive design, turning centuries-old traditions into drivers of the night-time economy and cultural tourism.

Reimagining heritage for new generations

In Chengdu, digital culture is closely tied to youth, gaming and creative entrepreneurship. The city has introduced China's first policy focused on early-stage digital cultural startups, offering funding, rent-free spaces and R&D support. Alongside this, a comprehensive esports strategy – backed by subsidies of up to one million yuan for venues and major tournaments – has helped establish Chengdu as a national esports hub and a rising global destination for digital culture. 

Nanjing offers a particularly striking example of how traditional culture can be reactivated through immersive technology. As China's only UNESCO City of Literature, Nanjing has transformed classic works into interactive experiences. Its immersive adaptation of Dream of the Red Chamber, launched in 2024, attracted more than 10,000 visitors and generated over one million yuan, while renewing interest in classical literature among younger audiences.

The rise of the night-time city

One of the report's key global trends is the rise of the night-time economy, with cities recognizing that what happens after dark is central to identity and growth. Chinese cities, once again, are at the forefront of this shift. 

Nanjing's Confucius Temple area illustrates how heritage sites can be transformed into vibrant night destinations. Through immersive storytelling, smart river cruises and themed cultural hotels, the historic precinct now attracts more than 50 million visitors annually. 

Similarly, Beijing's transformation of Shougang Park – once a massive steel production site – into a cultural, ecological and recreational zone has created a new landmark for night-time tourism and post-industrial urban renewal, especially following the 2022 Winter Olympics.

A city-led cultural future

The World Cities Culture Report makes a clear case: cities that invest in culture are investing in long-term resilience.

In this context, Chinese cities are not only preserving their past but actively designing their future, and in doing so, they are redefining what it means to be a global city in the 21st century.

Editor's note: Zaruhi Poghosyan is a multimedia editor for CGTN Digital.