Beijing has started to offer coupons worth 12.2 billion yuan ($1.71 billion) to spur consumption dampened by the COVID-19 epidemic.

They can be used at participating restaurants and retailers in the city as well as for buying online products equipped with smart technologies.

The promotion, which will last until the National Day holiday in October, includes more than 400 activities to help boost consumption and cover a multitude of areas including catering, retailing, culture, tourism, education and sports.

In addition to this, some livestreams, online shopping and supermarket direct-purchase offers have started to provide Beijing consumers with Hubei local specialties.