Taikooli Is Ground Zero for Beijing's Nighttime Economy Push

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Chaoyang’s commerce bureau recently announced a plan to ramp up nighttime consumption in Beijing, which means that the nightlife in Sanlitun is about to get even wilder (in a very top-down and controlled kind of way).Taikooli, owned by Swire Properties, has been involved with the effort since it became a pilot project for the city’s nightlife consumption program that began in earnest last year and centered around the late-night spicy dining on Gui Jie. Now that the city is in recovery mode after COVID-19, getting people out and spending is more important than ever.A major part of the initiative is allowing restaurants with outdoor seating to stay open well past sundown, coaxing customers to stay out for another round while enjoying the balmy summer air.

Speaking to the Beijinger, a representative of Taikooli Sanlitun explains how "Allowing [bars and restaurants] to operate outdoors at night can make them more flexible, stimulate innovation, and motivate them to improve services," adding that the initiative "requires synergies from the commerce bureau and many other government departments at various levels, as well as from developers and retailers."

The Taikooli Sanlitun area has long been Beijing's shopping hub

Taikooli will also roll out a series of events aimed at promoting nighttime consumption. The first of such, dubbed Bite of Summer, runs now until Jun 24 with discounts at various Sanlitun Taikooli venues accessible via Dazhong Dianping (search "三里屯太古里"). Additionally, Taikooli North will hold a night market on the east side of their multipurpose art space The Red from Jun 18-24, 5-8.30pm.
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More big changes are coming to Taikooli as the mall begins putting its ambitious plans into action. For instance, the beleaguered market and former knock-off mecca Yashow is finally set to become Taikooli West, just as the area north of Sanlitun Bar Street became Taikooli North. The area's upgrades were thrown into disarray by COVID-19, but we’re told that the project has fully resumed, and is expected to be completed in January of 2021, three years after the transition was first announced.

“The building’s look and feel will fully reflect the Taikooli neighborhood,” the Taikooli Sanlitun representative says, adding that the expansion would “become an ideal complement to the existing Taikooli Sanlitun.”

As for this coming year, the existing mall will have welcomed 18 new retail brands by September, including a number of popular Japanese outlets like Public Tokyo and United Tokyo, both owned by Tokyo Base. Another Japanese brand specializing in pastries called LeTao already opened and has been well-received thus far.

Also on the docket and expected to open sooner rather than later are the designer sportswear brand Maia Active and the much anticipated US burger chain, Shake Shack.

Shake Shack is expected to bring burger lovers to Sanlitun by the droves

The representative adds, “As a fashion and cultural landmark in Beijing, Taikooli Sanlitun has always been committed to continually optimizing our tenant mix to bring cutting-edge and refreshed shopping experiences to the increasingly discerning customers in Beijing and, at the same time, contribute to upgrading the entire Sanlitun area into a national landmark."

The appreciation you'll draw from those additions will likely correlate to how much you enjoy the glossy, sterile, and ubiquitous mall experience.

Images: Sohu, Trip Advisor, Shake Shack China

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