Chengdu: China’s heart of creative freedom

Sichuan province’s capital, Chengdu, has been unofficially labeled China’s “queer capital” for more than a decade. That reputation derives from the city’s nightlife, skate culture, drag scene, and art communities, all of which have historically allowed more room for experimentation than Shanghai or Beijing. Today, Chengdu offers a plethora of creative subcultures that have evolved into a strategic consumer base for luxury brands. The Chengdu appeal Chengdu’s rise stems from structural actors. The city is slower and cheaper than China’s coastal metropolises, and its teahouse and spa cultures emphasize leisure over pretentious consumption. It has even been ranked by annual national polls as China’s “happiest city” for more than 10 consecutive years — a branding that resonates with young migrants seeking balance over hustle culture. Photographer Lixiang (@lixiang_no_head), who frequently documents the city’s creative scene, notes, “Many people come to Chengdu in search of a comfortable and open lifestyle. However, those who truly settle down are likely doing so based on their overall assessment of life in Chengdu.” Filmmaker Ben Mullinkosson observed the same dynamic while making The Last Year of Darkness, a 2023 documentary exploring Chengdu’s queer club scene. “It’s a very tolerant and accepting place,” he tells Jing Daily. “People look a little crazier and don’t really [care what anyone thinks], so it creates a safe space to party. It’s a really great place to come of age and experiment and be whoever you wanna be.” This inclusive nature stretches beyond nightlife into other social areas, too. As Mullinkkosson says, “I don’t get kicked out from skateboarding spots as much because the police are more fascinated by skateboarding than wanting us to leave. That same mentality applies to partying. It is a very open community. Shanghai has a more fashionable party scene, and it is more pretentious.” Progressive club culture Nightlife has become the city’s gateway for visibility. Clubs such as Tag and Funky Town offer an escape for queer expression that traditional Chinese bars do not. But the ecosystem has constraints. Explicit LGBTQ branding remains sensitive, prompting coded language and private networks. “If you’re very outward about it, you can get in trouble,” Mullinkosson says, citing how parties with the label “Queerist” were shut down for their use of certain keywords. The broader creative sector has matured, with Art Basel now listing Chengdu as a rising hub for art and architecture, attracting independent galleries and younger collectors. Skate culture has also grown. Mullinkosson’s upcoming film, F*ckboy, follows local skate crew Green Energy and was shot entirely in Chengdu. He contrasts the city with Los Angeles, where he lived for eight years prior. “In big cities where the creative industries are very prominent, like LA or London, you get wrapped up in creating for the wrong reasons, for the capitalism of creating.” He continues, “Chengdu is a little bit cheaper, so you can focus on life outside of creating. My friends in Chengdu are party people and skaters. My conversations are who’s DJing tonight and where we’re gonna skate tomorrow rather than asking what we’re working on.” Are brands recognizing Chengdu’s potential? Retail has followed culture. Malls such as Cosmo Chengdu have built a template for experiential shopping that merges food, nightlife, fashion, and social media discovery. International labels now view Chengdu as a test bed for youth culture activations, pop-ups, and experiential marketing — it is also home to a plethora of carefully-curated vintage stores. In fact, Chengdu is one of China’s leading economic hubs and has sustained steady growth. In 2024, the city ranked as the nation’s seventh-largest economy, with GDP growing 5.7% year-over-year to $336.9 billion (RMB 2.35 trillion), according to Savills. In 2025, this figure increased 5.8% YoY to $355.6 billion (RMB 2.48 trillion), according to the Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Statistics. The recent Vivienne Westwood exhibition, complete with a branded café, reflects how luxury brands court subcultural credibility in China through place-based storytelling. Chengdu is not defined by queer nightlife alone. Instead, it has become one part of a wider lifestyle offering: nightlife, wellness, art, skate, and design. In a market where Gen Z spending is increasingly shaped by culture rather than pure status, Chengdu serves as a laboratory for China’s next luxury consumer class.

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Chengdu: China’s heart of creative freedom