Recently, the Haidian District People's Government of Beijing Municipality officially released a "1+2" policy framework to support the development of "AI + Culture", aiming to empower the cultural industries through AI technologies, build a globally influential "AI + Culture" industry cluster, and drive deeper integration between culture and technology across the district.

[Photo via VCG]

With "AI + Culture" as the core driver, Haidian will roll out targeted initiatives in key fields such as gaming and e-sports and premium micro-dramas, building a comprehensive ecosystem spanning technology R&D, content creation, scenario-based applications, and global market expansion. The policy specifies that key areas—including the northern Beiqing Road corridor, the southern Zhichun Road area, and the Zhongguancun Street axis—will serve as anchors for industry clustering across the district. Entities that play a leading role in fostering specialized industry clusters may be eligible for incentives of up to 40 million yuan.

To boost innovation, Haidian will launch an "AI + Culture" co-creation program, encouraging the development of vertical large language models for cultural applications, shared technology platforms, and high-quality datasets. Enterprises that lead the formation of innovation consortia and achieve outstanding results can receive rewards of up to 30 million yuan. In the gaming, e-sports, and micro-drama sectors, the district will also support the deep integration of AI technologies with content creation, with laboratory construction eligible for funding of up to 10 million yuan.

Haidian boasts a strong industrial foundation. The district is home to more than 1,900 AI enterprises and 116 registered large models, accounting for nearly 70 percent of Beijing's total, forming a full industrial ecosystem covering chips, frameworks, large models, and applications. From January to August 2025, revenue from large-scale cultural industries in the district reached 946.46 billion yuan, representing more than half of Beijing's total.

The policy package also emphasizes content creation and international communication. It encourages the exploration of Haidian's cultural assets—such as the "One Village, Three Hills, and Five Gardens" cultural landscape, innovation culture, and red (revolutionary) culture—and offers rewards of up to 20 million yuan for outstanding literary and artistic works, games, and micro-dramas. Support is also provided for enterprises expanding overseas to tell Chinese stories to global audiences.

With the rollout of these policies, Haidian District aims to further streamline the ecosystem linking technology R&D, content creation, scenario applications, and global expansion, injecting fresh momentum into Beijing's development as an international science and technology innovation center and a national cultural hub.

(Compiled by People's Daily Online, and CNS.cn)