From the viral appeal of Winter Olympics mascot Bing Dwen Dwen and popular collectible toy Labubu to centuries-old pharmacy Tongrentang now serving up coffee, and smart "human-car-home" tech integrations in smartphones, electric vehicles, and appliances, Beijing is stepping up efforts to become a hub of cutting-edge trends.

The city recently rolled out its first-ever roadmap for the sector, and the three-year plan aims to transform the capital into a global leader in shaping the trends, the municipal economy and information bureau announced Monday.

The plan focuses on boosting tech-infused products, premium brands, wellness-focused goods, and creative designs to meet evolving consumer needs.

"As consumer preferences evolve, fashion now extends far beyond just apparel and cosmetics. Emotion-motivated, pleasure-oriented spending is increasingly driving demand, expanding the industry's boundaries into home goods, automobiles, food, consumer electronics and more," a bureau official said.

According to the roadmap, for tech-infused products, the city will support the development of wearables, AI-powered personal computers, immersive AR/VR entertainment, and smart home and vehicle ecosystems. 

For premium brands, it will elevate local apparel and cosmetics brands while attracting luxury R&D and production centers.

For wellness-focused goods, the city will encourage the development of high-tech fitness gear, outdoor sports equipment, tradition-inspired gourmet offerings, and high-tech pet gear. And for creative designs, the city will reimagine traditional crafts and develop creative collectible toys.

To spur innovation, Beijing will launch five key initiatives, including AI-enhanced design, service-oriented manufacturing, sustainable products with reduced environmental impact, new retail experiences, and industry cluster development. A city-wide trendy experience map will be unveiled to guide consumers to curated hotspots.