This year, the country has proposed innovating diverse consumption scenarios, hoping that richer environments will become a new engine driving consumption. Recently, it has been observed that more and more places are revitalizing idle assets, including old buildings and factories, combining them with distinctive cultural IPs, and designing rich experiential programs to continuously attract visitors.

Uncovering IP Value

Post Offices “Transform” into Popular Check-in Spots

This summer, the newly opened marine research-themed post office in Qingdao, Shandong, has been bustling with visitors. Inside the post office, spiral staircase walls display deep-sea creatures at varying depths. The post office features seven functional areas, including marine science education and marine stamp exhibitions, where visitors can learn about the ocean through visual, tactile, and auditory experiences. Here, you can not only buy cultural and creative products but also stamp seals and handcraft非遗-themed postcards.

In Chengdu’s Panda Post Office, newly added AI-customized refrigerator magnets have attracted many tourists this year. The post office also regularly hosts themed folk activities to showcase非遗 techniques in cultural and creative products.

It has been noted that in cities like Beijing, Guangzhou, and Lanzhou, there are revitalized theme post offices that vividly present various elements such as the 24 solar terms, Party history stories, and Silk Road culture, using “postal green” as a carrier.

Becoming a Trendsetter Hub

Old Factory Areas Turn into New Popular Landmarks

Not only post offices but also commercial complexes integrating creativity and new business models are rising from industrial sites, becoming new urban landmarks.

In a basketball gym at Baoding’s “D19 Block” in Hebei, a youth basketball match is fiercely underway. Since the block reopened, this sports venue, transformed from an old factory building, has hosted over 1,700 various events.

Large street walls are covered with creative graffiti, attracting many young people to take photos. During the summer, daily foot traffic in the block reaches about 5,000 people, with sales in shops and retail stores increasing by over 30%.

Through more than 5,000 questionnaires, the business layout including e-sports, trendy toys, food, and cultural creativity was determined. Feedback was also gathered multiple times from university students.

With diverse new business formats, young people have new gathering spots, and recently, Baoding’s basketball league chose this location as its main venue.

Sports’ multifunctional roles are being fully utilized, with comprehensive value continuously emerging, creating a vibrant sports consumption ecosystem.

Continuously Enriching Business Formats

Old Spaces Become “Trendy”

Across the country, more and more commercial landmarks are emerging from urban renewal transformations.

Shanghai’s former cement plant is now the West Bund Dream Center. By day, it serves as a riverside “natural living room” for citizens, and by night, it transforms into a “waterfront theater.” The former Changsha oil factory in Hunan has introduced diverse new formats like trendy entertainment and dining, attracting many artists and young people to settle there.

Industrial heritage sites are being revitalized into “new landmarks” for experiential consumption. It is estimated that urban renewal commercial projects drive an average of over 50% consumption growth. The increase in commercial projects also continues to significantly boost employment in various service positions.

Deepening Connotation and Expanding Functions

Enriching New Consumption Scenarios

How can we better uncover the new potential of

marine research-themed post office

The marine research-themed post office is a unique facility that integrates postal services with oceanographic education, often located near major marine institutes or aquariums. It was established to promote public awareness of marine science, typically featuring exhibits, special postmarks, and stamps related to ongoing ocean research. This concept highlights the intersection of civic infrastructure and scientific outreach, celebrating local maritime heritage.

Panda Post Office

The Panda Post Office is a themed post office located in Chengdu, China, near the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. It was established to celebrate the city’s iconic animal, allowing visitors to send mail and postcards with special panda-themed stamps and cancellations. The office serves as a unique cultural attraction that combines postal services with panda conservation awareness.

D19 Block

I am unable to provide a summary for “D19 Block” as it does not appear to refer to a widely recognized historical or cultural site. The term could refer to a specific building or local area, but without more context, its history and significance are unclear.

West Bund Dream Center

The West Bund Dream Center is a contemporary cultural and performing arts venue located in Shanghai, China, which opened in 2017. It was developed as part of the city’s initiative to transform its former industrial West Bund area into a vibrant cultural corridor. The center is housed in a converted aircraft hangar and is renowned for hosting major theatrical productions, art exhibitions, and large-scale events.

Changsha oil factory

The Changsha Oil Factory was a state-run industrial facility established in the 1950s, reflecting China’s push for industrialization during that era. It was a significant local employer for decades before eventually closing as the city’s economy modernized and shifted away from heavy industry. The site is now often remembered as a part of the city’s industrial heritage.

24 solar terms

The 24 Solar Terms are an ancient Chinese calendar system and cultural treasure that divides the year into 24 distinct periods based on the sun’s position. Originating from the Yellow River valley over 2,000 years ago, this agricultural timetable guided farming activities and daily life by observing astronomical and natural changes. In 2016, it was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity for its profound cultural significance.

Party history stories

“Party history stories” refer to narrative accounts that chronicle the history of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). These stories are a key component of political education, often highlighting the Party’s revolutionary origins, struggles, and achievements to promote patriotism and ideological loyalty. They serve to reinforce the official historical narrative and the CCP’s foundational role in modern China.

Silk Road culture

The Silk Road was an ancient network of trade routes connecting China to the Mediterranean, active for centuries and facilitating the exchange of goods like silk, spices, and technologies. This interaction profoundly shaped the cultures, religions, and economies of the regions it connected, from East Asia to Europe. Its legacy is a testament to early globalization and cross-cultural dialogue.