Xicheng District has been positioned as a "National Financial Management Centre" and "Domestic Business Centre" in the General Urban Layout of Beijing (2004¨C2010).

  Financial Street, well-known at home and abroad, has been developed over the past ten years. There are nearly 600 financial institutions and famous enterprises on the street, including 17 commercial bank s and 9 insurance companies operating nationwide. They control 90 percent of credit funds and 65 percent of premium capital in the country.

  Xicheng District is one of the most active areas for business in Beijing. The use of modern business modes by old commercial centres such as Xidan and Di'anmen has intensified Xicheng's commercial atmosphere, while the joining of international brands and the introduction of modern business ideas and methods have created more space for the development of business in the district.

  Financial Street will ultimately cover 354 square metres in the city.It was designed and constructed according to international standards for a first-class financial centre, and it has become a nationwide model for a "headquarters economy."

  Financial Street teems with famous companies and business people; it has been called "Golden Street" since the Yuan Dynasty. It became populated with yinhao (old private banks) and gradually formed the early basis for the Chinese financial industry during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Today, the congregation of headquarters of seven State-owned financial institutions: the People's Bank of China, Bank of China, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, China Construction Bank, China Securities Regulatory Commission, China Banking Regulatory Commission and the China Insurance Regulatory Commission symbolize the core status of Financial Street in China's financial circles.

  Xicheng District has a complete commercial system with various modes of enterprises ranging from department stores, brand names shops to chain stores and warehouse stores. All its large stores are striving to upgrade their shopping environments and to bring in better products so they can become more successful domestic enterprises.

The Xidan Bookstore is the largest state-owned retail bookstore in Beijing. Located in the northeast of the Xidan Crossing, it is the largest state retail bookstore. Noted also for being the largest bookstrore in Asia and the largest Chinese bookstore in the world, it covers an area of 8000 square meters. BeiJing Bookstore Building has already set up business relationships with more than 500 publishing houses across the country. It offers more than 300,000 varieties of books, audio and video products and electronic publications. The task of stocking, selling, adjusting, and storing books is managed through a computer network. The bookstore is adopting open sale method, enabling readers to happily wander in a sea of books.

  The Xidan business street lies in the centre of the city with a length of 5.4 kilometres. As one of the busiest streets in Beijing, the street is the most centralized and developed area for commerce and the service industry.

  Xidan Beidajie is thriving with its population with shops and shopping centres. The famous Xidan Department Store, Xidan Shopping Centre, Xidan SCITECH Plaza, Zhongyou Department Store, Juntai Building, 77th Avenue Shopping Centre compete with each other here. The Xidan Cultural Square, covering an area of 35,000 square metres, is the biggest multi-functional cultural site with good environment for relaxation, recreation and shopping in downtown Beijing.