Beijing’s Gubei Miaojie Opens to Revive Heritage and Boost Holiday Economy

What changed

Beijing’s Miyun district opened the 1.4-kilometre Gubei Miaojie street on October 2 after more than six months of renovation.

The project keeps Gubeikou’s old lanes, courtyards and historic buildings while adding cafés, craft-beer venues, pizza, cultural activities and local food. It also begins a three-year plan to recruit 100 “non-standard operators” across hospitality, art, design and experiences.

Why it matters

Gubeikou is Beijing’s only China-designated historic cultural town. The challenge is familiar: preserve the old fabric without turning it into a museum that earns nothing for the people living around it.

Miaojie’s answer is a deliberately small-touch makeover. Buildings were reinforced and repaired first, then given new uses under a “one house, one plan” approach. The town used competitions to find operators before construction, bringing in young designers and smaller brands instead of filling every space with the same commercial formula.

That matters because the project is designed to send money beyond the street itself. Villagers can sell goods at an open market, keep existing businesses, work locally, or participate through housing transfers. Village collectives are investing together and sharing returns. The plan also includes business space, renovation subsidies, an incubation fund and promotional support for incoming operators.

The opening festival, running October 2 to 4, offers nearly 20 Chinese craft-beer brands and more than 100 canned beers, alongside motorcycle parades, folk performances, a pet sports event, a Great Wall cycling challenge and outdoor films. Nearby lodging and dining occupancy has continued to improve, though no baseline or percentage is provided.

The informed bet is that a historic district works best when local residents have a stake in its commercial life. If the 100-operator programme can keep that balance, Gubei Miaojie could become a working village centre rather than a polished backdrop: old walls, new businesses and village income tied to the same place.