As Beijing accelerates into a new era of technology and innovation, the spotlight falls on the city’s leading tech pioneers and entrepreneurs—especially those driving progress in artificial intelligence.
A major artificial intelligence development park has been proposed for Beijing’s Mentougou district, with an estimated investment of $2.12 billion and plans to accommodate around 400 companies. The project forms part of Beijing’s broader goal to become a global AI leader by 2025.
AI is increasingly visible across the city. In Beijing’s financial district, a KFC introduced a smart restaurant concept that allows visitors to experience AI-driven service innovations. This spring, the city hosted an international AI Conference that brought together top data and cloud experts from companies including Google, eBay, Alibaba and Amazon to discuss advances in cloud computing and smart technologies.
Once renowned for imperial gatherings in the Forbidden City, Beijing has transformed into a major hub for international meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE). The city’s rapid development has boosted its MICE offerings, with excellent facilities, experienced suppliers and a growing management network. In 2016 the Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development reported a 20 percent year-on-year increase in conference bookings.
Beijing now ranks first in China and fourth in Asia for MICE. The capital provides 5,593 conference rooms, including 194 venues with seating for more than 500 people. Hotel inventory exceeds 190,000 rooms, ranging across budgets and standards, including 64 five-star hotels and 131 four-star hotels.
The city is among the first in China to implement formal MICE tourism policies to support international events. Planners can apply to the Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development for services such as familiarization trips and financial assistance.
The 28-story Beijing International Hotel Convention Center, located about 19 miles southwest of Beijing Capital Airport and a short drive from the China World Trade Center in the culturally rich Dongcheng district, recently hosted the AI Conference. The center features modern technology and includes 30 function rooms plus a 21,500-square-foot Grand Hall that overlooks the busy Chang’an Avenue. Popular city attractions like the Silk Market, Wangfujing shopping area, the Forbidden City and Beihai Park are within easy walking distance.
NUO Hotel Beijing meeting room © NUO
NUO Hotel Beijing, an award-winning property, has received recognition including Best MICE Hotel of the Year and a TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice listing among China’s Top 25 Luxury Hotels. Located near the contemporary 798 Art District and 751D Park, NUO blends traditional Chinoiserie with modern amenities. Its pillar-free Yongle Grand Room—named after a Ming Dynasty emperor whose name means “Perpetual Happiness”—features elegant décor from crystal chandeliers to polished gray marble and plush carpets. The hotel’s Yuan Tea House recreates an imperial courtyard atmosphere and serves premium teas in handcrafted clay pots. NUO regularly hosts diverse events, from press conferences to automotive launches and fashion shows.
Near Beijing’s Financial Street, the new luxury Pan Pacific Beijing offers tailored services for small- to medium-sized groups, including a dedicated meeting concierge. The hotel’s location on the west side of Tiananmen Square makes it convenient for combined on-site meetings and team-building activities at nearby attractions like the Summer Palace or Beihai Park.
Pan Pacific Beijing Amber Lounge © PAN PACIFIC BEIJING
About a mile from Tiananmen Square, the renovated Regent Beijing offers 500 rooms with many suites providing views of the Forbidden City. The Regent is popular with international academic delegations and corporate groups and features more than 20,000 square feet of modern meeting space. Located in the Wangfujing shopping district, the hotel places attendees close to high-end retail, landmark attractions and convenient transport links.
Unique Venues
The National Centre for the Performing Arts, often regarded as one of the country’s premier opera houses, stands out for its striking design by French architect Paul Andreu. The titanium-and-glass ellipsoid dome houses a 2,416-seat opera house, a 2,017-seat concert hall, a 1,040-seat theater and expansive art and exhibition spaces—ideal for private group tours and special events.
At the western edge of the city, the Summer Palace and its surrounding gardens offer a contrasting historical venue. Stretching across Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake, the imperial complex is larger than the Forbidden City and showcases Qing Dynasty-era architecture and landscaped grounds. Highlights include the Hall of Jade Billows, former living quarters of Qing emperors, and the Great Opera Hall built for Empress Dowager Cixi—each reflecting the grandeur of a bygone era and providing dramatic settings for cultural visits and incentive activities.