Commentary: China's old factories and lanes are a 'blue ocean' for new consumption
【好评中国】“旧空间”里挖掘“新消费”沃土
A commentary published by Litchi News and syndicated on NetEase argues that repurposed industrial sites—old factories, warehouses, and historic lanes—are driving a surge in domestic tourism spending. The piece cites industry forecasts that China's industrial tourism market will surpass 300 billion yuan by 2029, growing at roughly 18% annually. It frames this summer's popularity of sites like Beijing's Shougang Park and Chengdu's Eastern Suburb Memory as evidence that 'old spaces' offer an irreplaceable authenticity that new commercial developments lack.
The view from inside
The article, part of the state-backed 'Praise China' (好评中国) commentary series, frames the adaptive reuse of industrial heritage as a natural convergence of consumer demand and national policy.
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