Beijing – September 15, 2026 -- China Daily and the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism jointly launched the "China Bound•Beijing" English-language cultural tourism platform, giving international visitors a single digital gateway to plan trips, access AI-powered assistance and navigate the capital's attractions via a dedicated website and mini-programs on Alipay and WeChat.
New platform bundles itinerary planning with AI assistance for overseas travelers
The platform, accessible at chinabound.cn/beijing, offers services ranging from trip planning to real-time AI support aimed at extending visitor stays through immersive experiences such as intangible cultural heritage tours. "We aim to tell Beijing's cultural-tourism stories in a language overseas audiences understand, and translate the city's resource advantages into inbound tourism appeal," said Zheng Fang, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism.
Beijing ranks fifth globally as new WTCF report tracks 2025-26 city performance
The launch coincided with the unveiling of the World Tourism Cities Development Report (2025-26) by the World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) at the World Conference on Tourism Cooperation and Development 2026, held in Beijing's Shougang Park. The report's Comprehensive Ranking places New York, Tokyo, Paris and London ahead of Beijing, followed by Shanghai, Hong Kong, Milan, Istanbul and Dubai in the top 10. Joseph Daniel Lema, a professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, who presented the report, said Beijing's improved position reflects strength in cultural resources, smart governance and safety assurance.
Conference draws delegates from over 50 countries under smart-tourism theme
Hosted by the WTCF and co-organized by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, the conference — themed "Smart Tourism, Shared Prosperity" and running through Friday — gathered representatives of WTCF member cities, international organization heads, cross-border travel traders and diplomatic envoys from more than 50 countries and regions. The event runs alongside the 2026 China International Fair for Trade in Services.
Dai Bin, director of the China Tourism Academy, cited Beijing's rollout of AI-backed initiatives including cross-regional tax refunds as a referable model for AI-driven cultural and tourism applications. Olaf McKay, mayor of Valletta, Malta, noted that China's visa-free policy is improving access for Maltese citizens, particularly students, while Ben Montgomery, vice-chairwoman of the Pacific Asia Travel Association, said AI, data analytics and digital platforms are reshaping how travelers discover and book destinations worldwide.