The combination of premier sports events in Chinese capital Beijing and the National Day holiday has motivated over 100 million yuan (around 14.9 million US dollars) in event-related spending, featuring an integrated boom of culture, commerce, tourism, and sports.
The 2026 China Open tennis championship, which concluded on Sunday, set new records for both attendance and ticket revenue. Data shows that the tournament hosted over 450,000 spectators, a year-on-year increase of more than 25 percent, with visitors from outside Beijing making up 60 percent of the total.
"We drove over to watch the China Open matches. The experience has been fantastic; my son and I have already spent two days here," said Meng Mingyu, a tourist.
Spending was strong on licensed merchandise, food and beverage and other entertainment activities offered around the tennis stadium.
"We are seeing a daily footfall of around 30,000 to 40,000, and the sustained peak levels are unprecedented in history. Our souvenir shops are doing a roaring trade, and there is also strong consumer demand for experiences around food and entertainment," said Li Xuhua, executive deputy secretary-general of the China Open Organizing Committee.
The World Table Tennis (WTT) China Smash 2026 also wrapped up on Sunday at Beijing's Shougang Park, which was hosting the event for the third straight year.
Organizers set up a 10,000 square meter outdoor viewing area around the Big Air ski and snowboarding ramps built for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, which are now a permanent feature at the park.
Merchandise sales were also brisk at the table tennis event, with over 80 specially designed products available.
"I bought a lot of balls and a table tennis paddle. Compared to last year, it feels like the hardware has been significantly upgraded," said Du Meimei, a tourist.
Major Beijing sports events draw big crowds, strong spending in Beijing
