Beijing Officials Tout Economic Gains as Locals Report Empty Streets, Job Losses

Official statistics and personal accounts suggest the capital may be closer to stagnation than recovery.
Beijing Officials Tout Economic Gains as Locals Report Empty Streets, Job Losses
A man walks into a shopping mall in Beijing on Dec. 10, 2024. Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images
|Updated:

Beijing officials insist the capital’s economy is steadily improving. However, residents describe a very different city—one marked by shuttered businesses, dwindling foot traffic, and deteriorating quality of life.

On Jan. 21, city authorities said at a press conference that Beijing’s economy had “continued to recover and improve,” with residents enjoying rising levels of “gain, happiness, and security.”