On September 22, 2023, the China (Beijing) Leisure Conference was held near Jinhai Lake, which is located in the Pinggu District of Beijing.
This conference is considered the most prestigious industrial and academic gathering of its kind in China. During the event, a contract was signed between the World Leisure Organization (WLO) and the Pinggu District Government to establish the WLO’s Beijing Representative Office. Additionally, agreements were reached between the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sports and the Pinggu District Government to develop a Sports and Leisure Area. The Pinggu District Government unveiled the interpretation of the World Leisure Valley Conceptual Plan, extended invitations for the 2024 Land Art Festival, and presented Leisure Case Awards selected by various academic organizations along with related academic reports.
One of the highlights of the conference was the signing ceremony for the WLO Beijing Representative Office. The upcoming office located near Jinhai Lake is expected to improve Beijing’s role as a center for international exchanges. Looking ahead, the office will solidify its influence in the global leisure industry and enhance its brand impact by attracting more high-quality enterprises, thus catalyzing the growth of the leisure and tourism industry.
Pinggu is making efforts to develop a Sports and Leisure Area, building on its recent success in hosting various domestic events of triathlon, marathon, cycling, and sailing. Notably, Pinggu has cultivated a particular advantage in water sports. Looking forward, the district plans to further concentrate on the sports industry and introduce high-specification A-level events. This strategic move aims to drive the development of the leisure industry by integrating culture, sports, and tourism.
The interpretation of the World Leisure Valley Conceptual Plan was released. The plan aligns profoundly with future development trends and plays an enlightening and demonstrative role for the next ten to twenty years in areas such as leisure and vacation, culture and tourism integration, international consumption, cultural inheritance, and regional integration. It offers a Chinese perspective with the Pinggu paradigm for the global metropolis to address challenges in the leisure industry. These efforts not only are in line with Pinggu's commitment to implementing the national strategy of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei coordinated development but also signify Pinggu's role in supporting the development of the capital city in the new era and building Beijing into an international consumption center.
The latest highlights were the release of authoritative academic reports and the selection of Leisure Case Awards. The Annual Report on Leisure City Development of China (2023) and Report on Beijing's Leisure Development (2023) were released to showcase major achievements and breakthroughs in the leisure industry in recent years. Additionally, exceptional global leisure cases were honored with Leisure Case Awards for their exceptional contribution to the development of the industry.
Sima Hong, Vice Mayor of Beijing, attended the conference and delivered a speech.
