New business forms drive high-quality development of China's cultural industry

New business forms and scenarios based on digital technologies and artistic design are bringing new experiences to customers and driving high-quality development of China's cultural industry.

As a core commercial area of Beijing since its establishment in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Longfu Temple was refurbished into an innovative cultural block near the Forbidden City and the Wangfujing commercial center.

The once old canteen was transformed into a cutting-edge art museum, and the abandoned old garage was transformed into a sports center. The block now not only preserves historical features but also offers an array of choices in food and beverage, as well as immersive experiences.

"There are many interesting cultural themes we like. We can experience many different artistic and cultural forms here," said Xu Jie, a local resident.

In Xi'an City, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, visitors are able to experience life in the Tang Dynasty (618-907) thanks to digital technologies.

Elsewhere, in Luoyang City, central China's Henan Province, an immersive hall is reshaping visitors' experience for the Longmen Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

"The demand of young consumers has changed these days. We need to create new scenarios to involve more young people, especially in traditional scenic spots. We want to provide a new consumption scene and cultural experience for them," said Ji Yamei, a staff member with the Longmen Grottoes Museum.

In the first three quarters of 2023, enterprises in China's cultural sector and related businesses recorded 9.16 trillion yuan (about 1.28 trillion U.S. dollars) of revenue in total, a 7.7-percent uplift from a year earlier, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

The revenue of the 16 cultural industries featured new forms was 3.69 trillion yuan (about 520 billion U.S. dollars), a year-on-year increase of 15.2 percent, and 7.5 percentage

points faster than cultural enterprises above the designated size.