The Place Beijing (世贸天阶): Sky Screen Citywalk & Shopping Guide 2026

“Look all of Beijing, look up.” The slogan used to say it all about The Place Beijing (世贸天楼), the most iconic address in Beijing. Yet under the radar, the landmark is once again evolving. The LED sky screen now beams with 4K clarity. The open plaza below is now a glass garden for all seasons. A flowing “loop” walkway connects what feels like two separate buildings. Meanwhile, the team behind Lize Tianjie (丽泽天街) curates an enticing different lineup. What looks different here, however, is more fun but the magic of the Place Beijing is that there aren’t many places in Chaoyang where you can browse, stroll and look up, sans giant herds of people.

📋 The Place Beijing Quick Guide

🌌 Iconic 4K LED Sky Screen

There's that moment every first time visitor remembers. You step onto Guanghua Road, look up, and there it is – a canopy of light stretching the full length of the plaza. The sky screen at The Place Beijing is not just an attraction. It’s a piece of living public art. And it just got better.

Visual 4K LED Clarity Upgrade

They have not changed the screen — they have upgraded it. 4K means every frame is sharper, richer and more immersive. Think art short films, luxury brand showcases, festival screenings. Every visit is a different visual adventure. But here’s the magic: you look up and the city disappears.

The shows run seasonally - so do plan around them! In summer, the screen ignites around 19:30 and the shows run every half hour from that point through to 23:00. In winter, it gets dark earlier, so begins at 17:00, with shows every half hour through to 22:00. Admission is completely free. Turn up 10 to 15 minutes before showtime and snatch yourself a decent position in the central plaza, ideally near the fountains.

All Weather Glass Atrium Comfort

The open plaza below the screen could be subject to Beijings highly changeable weather in the past. No more! A huge glass curtain wall encloses the space behind the big screen, and thus creates an atrium neighbouring with natural light. In the summer it will be cool, and in winter warm! A stylish indoor courtyard that is somewhere between a modern greenhouse and a Shanghainese laneway. You can sit underneath the glowing screen on any day of the year in full comfort!

✨ The Place's iconic LED canopy is one of Beijing's most unforgettable retail experiences — discover how it fits alongside its neighbours in our guide to Beijing shopping malls.

🏬 Relaxing Citywalk Shopping Mall Plaza

The Place Beijing is not a mall you rush through. The redesigned layout actually invites you to slow down. That is rare in Beijing's commercial landscape.

Seamless Loop Walkway Navigation Path

In its place is a new bridge joining north and south buildings. Together they form a loop — a completed circle, no cul-de-sac. If you’re a citywalk lover, this is a delight. One shop leads into the next. Also, each of the outsize corners gets its turn; it denies you the feeling you’ve missed something on the other side.

Open Architectural Terraces and Spaces

If you look at the façade, it’s like the flat surface has been broken up by stepped terraces, a chaotic layering in a sense — almost gardens themselves — that offer opportunities to activate them with café pop-ups, brand events down the line, or just better photography angles. For visitors, it means more angles to see, to light, and makes this place feel more alive.

🛍️ Unique Retail Brand Shopping Experiences

The Place Beijing has always been a solid fast-fashion destination. However, what sets it apart is not just the brands. It is the experience of shopping here — one shaped as much by pace and atmosphere as by what hangs on the rails.

Anchor Brand Insider Tips

The five main tenants cover the full fast-fashion spectrum. Here is where the value actually lives in each store:

⚠️ 2026 Closure Note — ZARA and ZARA HOME:

Both ZARA and ZARA HOME will close 30 April 2026 during the mall’s rebranding. ZARA’s South Street store, the original flagship in Beijing, has a sentimental value, and its interruption signifies a loss of identity at the mall. “No stocktake sale”, both stores are trading until the end. If you want to see them at their home, lay your plans.

Character Brands and Accessories

Beyond the main cluster, these four stores add a different dimension to the shopping floor — each with a distinct identity worth knowing before you walk past them.

• Adolfo Dominguez — A Spanish label with a quieter, more considered aesthetic than the typical fast-fashion pace. One of The Place Beijing's original international tenants. Good if you find H&M and ZARA too trend-driven.
• Adidas Heritage — Dedicated entirely to archival and classic-series sportswear. For shoppers drawn to pieces with a design history rather than the current drop.
• Swarovski (施华洛世奇) — Crystal accessories from necklaces to earrings. A reliable stop for a polished, compact gift that travels well.
• Sephora (丝芙兰) — One-stop beauty across most major global brands. Testers are freely available, making it easy to compare before committing.

Specialty Stores Worth Seeking Out

Three niche additions that most visitors walk past — and shouldn't.

• XXXL Korean Plus-Size Fashion — Recently opened, Korean-style women's clothing in extended sizes up to 240 jin, averaging around ¥100 per piece. Fills a genuine gap that most Beijing malls ignore.
• Zulu Concept Store / 祖鲁图杂货店 (B1) — An atmospheric homeware and curio shop with an unusually eclectic edit. Good for browsing and for gifts that don't look like airport purchases.
• Yilong Diamond / 亿龙钻石 — Specialist diamond jewellery across a broad style range. A calm, lower-pressure environment for engagement, wedding, or anniversary shopping.

Calm Dignified Mall Shopping Aisles

Here is something you will not read on a tourist blog. The Place Beijing is quiet. Even on weekends, the fitting room queues barely exist. The aisles are wide. The pace is unhurried. Compare that to SKP, Sanlitun or Xidan Joy City on a Saturday, and the difference is immediately felt. For anyone who finds crowded malls exhausting — especially families — this level of calm is the real selling point.

🍽️ Complete Lifestyle Destination Rest Offerings

The Place Beijing is gradually becoming something more than a mall. Think of it as a neighbourhood within a neighbourhood.

Practical Everyday Anchors and Stops

 

Hema Fresh (盒马鲜生) caters to everything required on a day-to-day basis from groceries to dinner. It serves the local well — and for tourists, it’s a great place to pick up snacks or packaged Beijing foodstuffs. The glass atrium is simply a lovely place to sit and, after a few hours of walking, pulling up that chair under the sky screen needs no further justification.

Casual Dining and Quick Bites

These four are the picks for a fast, satisfying meal without a reservation or a long queue:

• Fenmi Chicken / 分米鸡 — Korean spicy chicken ordered by size. Tender meat, good heat, served with rice cake and small potatoes. Reliable and well-priced.
• La Xiaobang / 辣小邦 — Sichuan cooking at around ¥38 per person. The numbing beef and tomato fish fillet are the two dishes to order. An easy weekday lunch option.
• Fang Shu / 芳叔 — Guangzhou-origin Hong Kong tea restaurant. The coconut egg tart and egg waffle (鸡蛋仔) are both required. Go earlier — popular items sell out.
• Yao Ya Yao Kiln BBQ / 窑啊窑 — Traditional kiln-grilled meats that seal in the juices notably better than standard BBQ. The durian mango pizza is the signature — worth it if you like durian.

Sit-Down Restaurants for a Longer Meal

When the occasion calls for a proper table — or the company warrants it — these three are the most considered options in the building:

• Annie Italian / 安妮意大利餐厅 — Around ¥100 per person. Smoked salmon, melon and ham, and the house salad are the standouts. Solid service, comfortable atmosphere for the price.
• Nanmen Sijia / 南门四季 — A new hotpot restaurant with interior design that earns its "treat guests here" reputation. The fresh-cut beach lamb shoulder is the dish to order — well-marbled and without the gaminess.
• Timeline Restaurant / 时间轴餐厅 — Seafood buffet with window seats that put the sky screen directly in view. Fresh ingredients and a good selection; the combination of food and the overhead light show makes it genuinely memorable.

Future Comprehensive Lifestyle Destination Vision

The mall's repositioning is already taking concrete shape. Confirmed incoming additions include:

• Health screening centre (~3,500 sqm) — South Building, Level 4
• Ophthalmology clinic (~1,600 sqm) — North Building, Level 3
• Cinema — confirmed for the basement level
• Huahai Live House / 花海Live House (Level 5) — Already open. Weekend live band performances with a neon-lit, relaxed atmosphere; a genuine alternative to a club night for the younger crowd.

The goal is a true mixed-use center, not simply a shopping destination. For the visitor lucky enough to arrive today, that transition is still mid-course — meaning simply that anyone lucky enough to be there now, gets to see The Place Beijing at an interesting moment, before the full thing settles in.

❓ FAQs About The Place Beijing 2026

Q: What is The Place Beijing most famous for?

The Place Beijing is best known for its monumental LED sky screen — one of the largest in Asia — which runs above a central plaza between two connected buildings. Beyond the visual spectacle, The Place Beijing draws visitors for its calm atmosphere, its full lineup of international fast-fashion brands, and its redesigned indoor atrium that makes it a genuinely comfortable year-round destination.

Q: Has the sky screen area been enclosed or is it still outdoors?

The plaza beneath the screen at The Place Beijing has been fully enclosed with a glass curtain wall. It now functions as a large indoor atrium with excellent natural lighting. This means the space is comfortable in both summer heat and Beijing's cold winters. The screen itself has also been upgraded to 4K resolution, making the visual experience significantly sharper than before.

Q: Is The Place Beijing a good choice for families?

Yes — and for very practical reasons. The Place Beijing offers a calm, spacious indoor environment that works especially well for families with children. The enclosed atrium provides a safe and comfortable space to move around. The mix of retail, dining, and the visual spectacle of the sky screen gives different family members something to enjoy, without the exhausting crowds found at busier Beijing malls.

Q: The brands are still being upgraded — is it worth visiting now?

Absolutely. The Place Beijing already delivers a strong fast-fashion lineup — H&M, ZARA, MUJI, UNIQLO, and Massimo Dutti — with regular discounts and an unusually pleasant shopping environment. The upcoming brand upgrades, led by Longfor Commercial, will only add to this. Visiting now means enjoying The Place Beijing at a quieter, more relaxed moment before the new phase fully arrives.

Q: Which metro station is closest to The Place Beijing?

The most convenient options for reaching The Place Beijing are Guomao Station (国贸站) on Line 1 and Line 10, Dongdaqiao Station (东大桥站) on Line 6, and Jintaixizhao Station (金台夕照站) on Line 10. All three are within comfortable walking distance. For first-time visitors, Guomao Station is the most straightforward choice, with clear exit signage directing you toward Guanghua Road.

Q: What brands can I find at The Place Beijing?

The Place Beijing currently anchors its retail with H&M, ZARA, MUJI, UNIQLO, and Massimo Dutti — a solid fast-fashion cluster that covers everything from basics to trend-led pieces. Hema Fresh (盒马鲜生) handles the grocery and food end. Furthermore, with Longfor Commercial now operating the mall, new and more curated brand additions are expected, following their track record at Lize Tianjie.

Q: What are the opening hours at The Place Beijing?

The Place Beijing generally operates from 10:00 to 22:00 daily. However, individual store hours may vary slightly, so it is worth checking a specific retailer's schedule if you are making a targeted visit. The sky screen light shows typically run during evening hours. For the best overall experience at The Place Beijing, arriving around late afternoon gives you both the shopping window and the prime screen-viewing time after dark.

Q: How does The Place Beijing compare to Sanlitun or other Chaoyang malls?

The Place Beijing plays a different game from Sanlitun. Sanlitun offers more brand variety and a livelier nightlife scene. However, The Place Beijing wins on atmosphere — it is calmer, less crowded, and the sky screen gives it a visual identity no other mall in Chaoyang can match. For visitors who want a relaxed citywalk experience rather than a high-energy retail circuit, The Place Beijing is the stronger choice.

Q: Is The Place Beijing worth visiting even as a tourist attraction?

Yes — and the sky screen alone makes The Place Beijing worth the detour. It is one of Beijing's genuinely unique urban experiences, not replicated elsewhere in the city. Beyond the screen, the redesigned space, the loop walkway, and the comfortable atrium make it an enjoyable environment to spend a few hours. The Place Beijing works equally well as a shopping stop, a photography location, or simply a place to pause and take in something unexpected.

Q: What is the best time of day to visit The Place Beijing?

Late afternoon into the evening is ideal for visiting The Place Beijing. Arriving around 16:00–17:00 gives you the full shopping window while foot traffic is still manageable. As the light fades, the 4K sky screen becomes progressively more stunning. By 19:00–20:00, when the screen is at full brightness against the dark sky, The Place Beijing delivers one of Beijing's most memorable urban visual experiences — completely free of charge.