Beijing's cultural industry posted strong growth in the first half of 2025, with large-scale enterprises generating 1.24 trillion yuan (US$172.7 billion) in revenue, up 13.2% year on year. Profits jumped 33.5% to 175.92 billion yuan, according to the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Statistics.

A key highlight was the animated blockbuster "Ne Zha 2," which led the Chinese New Year box office and earned over 15.9 billion yuan globally. Backed by several Beijing-based studios, the film became the fifth highest-grossing movie of all time worldwide.

Beijing's core cultural sectors brought in 1.14 trillion yuan in the first six months, a 14.1% increase, led by news services, content creation, creative design, and other sub-sectors.

New cultural formats, such as those blending tech with culture, accounted for 72.1% of the industry revenue, totaling 880.88 billion yuan. Immersive venues at the Shougang Park and the 798 Art Zone drew crowds with VR, AR, and interactive displays.

Live entertainment also surged. On June 28, six major concerts were held across the city, attracting over 100,000 people in a single day. The National Stadium, which can house up to 91,000 audiences, has been filling up the show schedules since March and the total number of performances at the venue is expected to surpass 50 this year.

The city's growing cultural offerings, including film festivals, concerts, and exhibitions, have made cultural and entertainment consumption a bright spot in Beijing's economy. As culture and technology continue to merge in various ways, the capital is strengthening its role as a creative and economic powerhouse.