Visitors take a break at an event during the ongoing Beijing Design Week.[Photo by Wang Zhuangfei/China Daily]

At the same time, an exchange platform for startups has been set up at the Design Service Center, a national incubator for design innovation.

Smart City, BJDW's effort to regenerate modern cities with city planning and architecture, employs the theme of "Bringing Together City Energy and Creating Smart Future" this year. It will stage three exhibitions, Exhibition of 10x100－UED 100 Architects in the Past Decade, Beyond Architecture and Pavilion of Today and Future, all of which are free to the public during the holiday at the China Millennium Monument. Two forums, Design for China and Urban Renaissance 2050, will explore the future of the cities.

"This year, we focus on the idea of 'design for the city'," says Zeng Hui, an official with the organizing committee for BJDW.

"We want to explore how the cities can become better places for living through design, as Beijing is sharpening in its function as a capital city."

Design Hop, the most popular segment of BJWD, remains its roots in the streets and communities of Beijing, especially in the 751D-Park and Dashilar hutong area.

In Dashilar, where designers, architects and urban planners have spent years on exploring organic ways to revitalize the hutong area, things are going steady.