China has seen a nationwide boom in the "debut economy" during the eight-day National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday break, which kicked off on Wednesday, as cities roll out first-of-their-kind stores, product launches, and experiential events to ignite consumer enthusiasm.
The "debut economy" refers to the first-time launch of innovative products, services, and business models designed to stimulate spending and create fresh consumption scenarios.
These debuts have increasingly focused on intelligent, high-end offerings and immersive retail formats that transform passive browsing into active engagement.
In the southern metropolis Shenzhen, the first AI ecosystem flagship store opened to crowds of eager shoppers. The store released more than 200 new AI-powered consumer electronics, from tri-fold projectors and stringless guitars to educational robots, spanning work, home, and entertainment use cases.
A dedicated interactive zone in the store allows visitors to play with AI rather than just observe it.
"I bought a flying camera. It's really fascinating. So many AI-powered products here have really impressed me," said a customer.
"Compared to regular stores, our foot traffic has increased by about four to five times, and customers are now spending over 15 minutes in the store, up from the usual five minutes on regular days," said Huang Xi, manager of an Alpha Global Flagship Store of Chinese smart phone brand HONOR.
These newly launched AI products are not only highly capable, but also remarkably user-friendly, making advanced technology more accessible to everyday consumers.
"The product we've launched this time is an AI-native smartphone. You just need to say one sentence, and the phone can handle many complex tasks for you. Powered by an AI agent, it can automatically execute actions across more than 3,000 different scenarios," said Bai Chen, AI product manager with HONOR.
Beyond Shenzhen, AI-driven debuts lit up holiday festivities nationwide. In Zigong, a city in southwest China's Sichuan Province renowned for its rich deposits of dinosaur fossils, the International Dinosaur Culture and Tourism Festival unveiled the world's first batch of intelligent robotic dinosaurs.
These lifelike machines don't just look real, they can listen, speak, and synchronize voice, facial expressions, and movements to deliver an immersive experience for visitors.
In Shanghai, the first outlet of a robot theater opened its doors, drawing crowds eager to interact with these lifelike humanoid robots.
"It's a brand new experience," said a customer.
"We're bringing technology into people's everyday life to make mall visits more enjoyable for customers," said Gu Mei, manager of the robot theater.
In Nanchang, the capital city of east China's Jiangxi Province, the province's first "home appliance debut center" drew flocks of visitors.
The venue features flagship outlets from more than 50 brands, showcasing debut products like 163-inch ultra-large TVs, four-drum washer-dryer combos, and AR smart glasses.
"I'd learned about this ultra-large TV online before, but never had a chance to try it out. Now that the store has opened during the National Day holiday, I came in person to check it out. It is quite good," said a customer.
"We had over 50,000 customer visits on our opening day alone. Many customers are opting for smart home appliances, and popular items are selling out almost instantly, with orders lining up for shipment. My team members and I have been rushed off our feet," said Wan Wenqiang, an outlet manager of the e-commerce giant Suning.com.
The "debut economy" also fueled regional festivals. In Sichuan, the fourth China International Panda Consumption Festival is underway, featuring over 600 promotional events centered on new retail formats.
Changsha, the capital city of central China's Hunan Province, launched a pro-consumption campaign, welcoming over 130 debut stores and hosting more than 20 premiere exhibitions and shows. The city also distributed 50 million yuan (about 7 million U.S. dollars) in consumption vouchers.
Among the highlights was the Hunan debut of an exhibition themed around the hit domestic animated film "Nobody", drawing fans eager to snap photos and buy merchandise like character-inspired hairbands and keychains.
"I bought this headband I'm wearing and this keychain. I heard Changsha is hosting a themed event for this film, so I came specially to check it out. My friends and I just took photos there. It really feels like we're interacting with characters in the movie," said a customer.
To further amplify the festive atmosphere, Changsha staged the province's first floating art installation -- a giant pink rabbit -- on the Xiangjiang River, alongside performances like the Yingge Dance, a traditional Chinese folk dance originating from the Chaoshan region of south China's Guangdong Province, blending opera, dance, and martial arts.
"This lineup of debut offerings enriches our in-mall brand mix and enhances the overall shopping experience for customers," said Ou Wei, marketing director of a shopping mall in Changsha.
'Debut Economy' fuels China's holiday consumption, with AI products taking center stage
