China's Capital Leads the Collapse Empty Airports Ghost High Speed Rails Dead Malls

This is really shocking. Look at this. This is the entire second floor. Almost all the shops here have shut down. The elevator to the third floor has already stopped running, and the area is sealed off with barriers. The fourth floor is also blocked off. Basically, the entire third and fourth floors are closed. Customers aren't even allowed up there anymore. Down on the first floor, there are maybe seven or eight shops still open, mostly retail and department stores. Even big brands like Starbucks are still hanging on, just barely surviving. The basement level is completely inaccessible. This mall has just been open for about a year and a half, but in reality, it basically collapsed just after six months of operation. It's really frightening. The building is still the same, but the people have changed, the prices have changed, and the stores have changed. It's honestly pretty tragic. I went downstairs for a walk. There's still a seafood shop left, but everything around it has closed. It's really surprising. After the Lunar New Year this year, there really seemed to be a lot fewer people in Beijing. This is China World Trade Center, and it's already like this now? I haven't come here in a long time, and it looks like many of these shops have been closed for quite a while. There's a Freshipo supermarket over there now. It's basically surviving on Freshipo alone. Wow, it's really bleak. The central fountain area doesn't even have water anymore. It's Friday today. This is just so depressing. Coming back to World Trade Day, one very clear impression is that there are more electric bikes now, and definitely more food delivery riders. It feels like the economy is really struggling. It's Friday, yet so many shops are closed. Some long-established stores just can't keep going anymore. It's really tough. China's economic slowdown is increasingly reflected in the capital, Beijing, where signs of decline are becoming more visible. The number of out-of-town residents living in the city has decreased compared with the past, while streets appear less busy, and fewer people are going out to shop or dine. Online, many people say that the downtown in Beijing is an undeniable reality. Have you noticed this? There seem to be fewer and fewer people in Beijing now. The streets feel empty and quiet. A lot of apartments can't even be rented out anymore. I feel like right now, the only real booming industries are food delivery and ride-hailing apps. Yesterday, I even got a ride in a luxury car. So tell me, for someone like me earning only 4,000 yuan a month, is there still any chance to make it in Beijing? This is the current situation in my hometown, Zhoukou Dian in Fangshan, Beijing. It's a village with more than 500 households, but in broad daylight, there's literally no one outside. When I was a kid, I used to walk around the streets with my grandmother whenever I had nothing to do, and the streets were full of people. So where has everyone gone now? People have suddenly, it's like they've evaporated. Why does it feel like Beijing suddenly has no people anymore? Don't doubt your instincts. Haven't you noticed? Beijing really does have far fewer people than before. On Beijing's three most famous pedestrian streets, you can't even find Beijing locals anymore. Have you noticed, everyone? In Beijing's major shopping malls, it's not almost completely deserted, barely any customers at all. It's 7.40 in the evening right now, and this is a dining street in Beijing. Whether it's Chinese, Western, or Japanese restaurants, it's all the same. There's just no one around. Most of the people on the street are now delivery riders. Where did all the people in Beijing go? I remember when I used to take the subway. It was packed, crowded with people everywhere. But look at it now. It's almost empty. It's only 7 p.m. Have people really stopped going out? Today, I was at a restaurant in China World Trade Center, just thinking about it. This used to be one of the busiest and most prosperous business districts. Now at night, there are really so few people walking around. Wanfujing Street once bustled with life, but has changed a great deal. The city now shows signs of lower activity and a much quieter atmosphere. During the morning rush hour, the subway is no longer as crowded as it used to be. Major commercial districts that once dealt with heavy foot traffic now seem relatively empty. Many migrant workers in Beijing report frequent changes among their roommates. A large share of their peers say they are planning to leave the city. At the same time, lower passenger volumes on the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed rail line and at Beijing's airports point to weakening economic momentum. I took a high-speed train from Nanjing to Beijing and it really shocked me. In the entire carriage, I was the only passenger. I spent the whole night alone on this long train ride and I didn't even dare to fall asleep. Even after I got off the train, I still felt shaken and unsettled. During the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, train carriages appeared relatively empty. At midday today, a Beijing-Shanghai high-speed rail service was unexpectedly sparsely occupied. Train attendants said that in the past two years, the number of people traveling for leisure has declined. Have you noticed this at all? At Beijing Daxing International Airport, the International Departure Hall is basically empty. Look at it. Such a huge airport, but there are hardly any passengers. Even the check-in and information counters are completely deserted. No way, no way. It's noon right now, supposed to be peak flight time. We're in the International Arrivals Hall at Daxing Airport and it feels like there's only our flight here. Are people just not coming to Beijing anymore? A look at Beijing's once iconic commercial districts, long seen as symbols of wealth and prosperity, now shows a different picture. I've come to China World Trade Center. I'm also taking a look at the shops outside the Soho buildings. Under each building, there's a ring of retail units. I checked them out. Many of them are vacant. Over here as well, there are shops underneath and quite a lot of them are empty. Compared to before, China World Trade Center now has far fewer office workers. From what I can see upstairs, there aren't really any major corporations here anymore. Most of the offices now are small studios. Things like graphic design, printing shops, advertising services. Compared to how it used to be, it's really very different. A lot of space is just sitting empty now. I remember when I used to live in Beijing. Every Friday after work, I loved going to the supermarket. After work, lots of people would head there all at once. Saturdays and Sundays were also really crowded. But now, it's really not like that anymore. Supermarkets are so quiet. It's empty inside. There's just no people. You can really see it. Friday evening used to be the peak rush hour after work. And even this particular supermarket was one of the busier ones in the area. Now there are almost no people at all. On June 20th, a Beijing resident posted a video At around 9.30pm, typically a peak time for summer evening walks, the area appeared almost deserted, resembling a ghost town. On June 16th, a blogger reported that around 4.30pm, very few people were outside the Wanda Plaza in Beijing. He found this unusual. After he entered the mall, he noted that the supermarket inside was not very crowded. On June 25th, Mr. Dong works in production management at a small company in Beijing. He told international media that conditions are poor in all industries. He said restaurants and shopping malls in Beijing are struggling. Consumer spending has weakened. Malls may have some foot traffic on weekends, but people make few actual purchases. He added that people are reluctant to spend money. Most of their income goes towards rent. Social activity has declined a lot. I almost have no social life outside of work. It's just commuting between home and the office. A migrant worker in Beijing, known as Xiao Chen, said that in his view, the city's economy began to decline after the Badasheng fire incident. He claimed that many low-wage migrant workers have left. There are now noticeably fewer people on the streets. He also said Beijing is no longer suitable for ordinary job seekers. A taxi driver who has worked in Beijing for more than 10 years told reporters his daily earnings. He used to make over 1,000 yuan per day. Now he only makes about 300 to 400 yuan. He added that by 7 or 8pm, traffic jams have mostly gone and nightlife has almost vanished. He said many supermarkets and restaurants have closed or are for sale. Previously busy areas become quiet. No one knows clearly where the people have gone. Another worker in Beijing named Zhou said, there are too many unemployed people in Beijing now. Competition is very intense. Many malls have closed. The old prosperity has faded like smoke. Subway traffic has gone down and the system faces pressure. It's really hard to say more. The future looks not optimistic. As China's economy keeps slowing and people spend less time at home, more physical stores in Beijing have quietly shut down or moved away. Beijing's well-known dining brand Jingdingchuan has closed its Yuyuanchun branch. Operations ended June 21st. The restaurant covered a total area of about 4,000 square meters. It specialized in Cantonese-style dim sum and a mix of regional Chinese cuisine. It combined flavors from Cantonese, Signature dishes such as shrimp dumplings, chicken feet in black bean sauce, custard buns, braised pork with vegetables, and spicy hotpot dishes were longtime customer favorites. For Beijing residents, Jingdingchuan holds a special place. While many restaurants serve for gatherings, Jingdingchuan worked more like a 24-hour all-day canteen. At its peak, its state opened around the clock. It served morning dim sum, business lunches at noon, family dinners in the evening, and even late-night meals. With steady tastes and fairly affordable prices, it gained a large group of loyal customers. For longtime diners in Beijing, their regret goes beyond the loss of a restaurant. It also marks the end of a shared memory in a certain atmosphere. Mr. Yang Yun works in cross-border e-commerce. He mentioned the closure of the Yuyuanchun branch in an interview. He said that cross-border e-commerce may now be one of the few strong industries. Most physical stores are struggling. A lot of retail outlets in Beijing are closing. The nightlife business in the Yuyuanchun area has collapsed. Beijing is the capital. If it weren't, things might be even worse. Many people simply don't have money anymore. Ms. Wang works in an education institution in Beijing. She told international media that after the pandemic lockdowns, all industries took losses and have not recovered. Supermarkets and restaurants have closed in large numbers. Jingdingxuan used to be very popular, but now it has shut down. She said that overall consumer spending has gone down. There are widespread salary cuts and layoffs. I rarely go shopping now. I mainly buy online, and only purchase what I actually need. I no longer buy unnecessary items. On June 30th, the Uniqlo store at Beijing Xingao Tianhong shopping mall is scheduled to officially close. The Uniqlo store has operated for 12 years and is now shutting down. Reactions on social media have been emotional and direct. People said things like, No, please don't. Most of my Uniqlo clothes were bought there. And, Uniqlo is the main reason I go to new Ao Tianhong. Some users noted it was the closest store to home. Buying basic clothing items will now require a long trip. According to Dianping listings, the store has been listed for 12 years. It holds a 4.8 rating. It has an average spending of 255 yuan per customer. It has long ranked second in popularity in the Yaoyuncun commercial area for clothing and footwear. For residents living around North 4th Ring Road, Yaoyuncun, and Datun Road, this Uniqlo store was more than a place to buy clothes. In summer, people would go in to enjoy air conditioning. In winter, they would try on jackets. On weekends, parents would bring children to pick up basic and reliable clothing. Over time, it became part of everyday community life. Uniqlo has long been seen as an essential wardrobe staple for many Beijing residents. Items such as Hitec base layers, lightweight down jackets, and the UT Graphic t-shirts were widely popular. Students and office workers all used to shop there. However, in recent years, the way people consume has been shifting. More people are cutting back on spending. This has made competition in retail tougher. Once reliable, mass market brands now find it harder to keep up sales. Latest financial results from Uniqlo's parent company, Fast Retailing, show strong global performance. However, its Greater China Division, the largest single overseas market, reported drops in both revenue and profit. The region makes up about 19% of total income. At the same time, the Beijing Chinatown Shopping Center announced it will stop operating on June 30th. It's now in the final stage of clearance sales. Some shoppers have shared their experience at the site. At the entrance, signs note upgrade renovation, store closing, everything must go. Inside, nearly all stores are running clearance discounts. Clothing, footwear, bags, and children's products across multiple brands are being heavily discounted. Recently, industry insiders in Beijing told overseas media that more than a dozen mid-sized shopping malls are expected to shut down in the second half of 2026. The trend is not limited to Beijing. In Shanghai, Chengdu, and other cities, both retailers and residents have reported a clear drop in consumer spending compared with last year. Mr. Liu is a Wenzhou businessman who does garment wholesale in Shanghai. He said that after the Chinese New Year, customers have become much more cautious. Denim jeans used to sell very well, especially among young people, but in the past three or four months, sales volumes are down about 30% compared with the same period last year. Long pants are especially hard to sell. Young consumers are more reluctant to spend money. Many garment factories are cutting back, and some are moving orders to smaller workshops. Recent data from China's National Bureau of Statistics show that from January to May this year, total retail sales of consumer goods grew by only 1.4% year on year. May alone, the figure turned negative and fell 0.6%. Such weak performance has only been seen before during the 2022 pandemic lockdown period. Data from analytics firm Xintun, released on June 22nd, shows that during the annual 618 Shopping Festival from May 13th to June 18th, total online sales increased by just 4% year on year. This is much lower than the 15.2% growth in the same period last year. The 618 Festival is one of China's largest online shopping events. In an article published on June 18th, the Communist Party journal Chuxue acknowledged that Chinese residents' willingness to consume is limited. This comes mainly from pressures like jobs, weak social security, and falling property values. It stated that in recent periods, some residents have faced significant pressure in employment and income, and consumption willingness has been suppressed. The article further argued that efforts should focus on accelerating the repair of household balance sheets. Stabilizing the real estate market, and preventing a negative spiral in consumption confidence caused by falling asset prices. In recent years, authorities have often stressed the need to grow domestic demand and make domestic circulation a main policy goal. This includes programs to upgrade and replace consumption, but results have been limited. A finance scholar under the pseudonym Xu Kun, who graduated from Nanjing University, said that the base of the Communist Party's dual circulation strategy needs stable household income and consumer confidence. However, both are now getting weaker. He argued that people still have consumption needs, but they are less willing to spend. This shows that the long-promoted internal circulation strategy is not working well. More broadly, he noted that China's economic growth in recent years has come mostly from real estate, infrastructure investment, and more debt. With the property sector slowing, local government finances getting tighter, and youth job conditions worsening, consumption is shrinking. As consumption shrinks, overall economic activity is likely to slow even more. As a result, a growing contradiction has appeared. Households have less money to spend, while official messages keep pushing upgrading consumption. The real economy is cooling, while official numbers look more positive, street activity is weaker, while public statements stay upbeat. More notably, online talks about consumption downgrade, store closures, and layoffs. often face removal and account limits. It seems as if censorship could fix the real problems. In reality, the economy does not live in official reports. It exists in everyday household finances. Whether shopping malls have customers, whether restaurants have diners, and whether young people have jobs or middle-class families feel secure enough to spend are all much better signs than per capita GDP numbers. More and more people believe that the biggest risk to China's economy may no longer be slower growth alone, it's a growing gap between the official stories and daily economic life.