Founded in 1954 as the first large, comprehensive exhibition venue in Beijing, with the late Premier Zhou Enlai cutting the red ribbon and Chairman Zedong contributing inscription, it is qualified as an organizer of foreign economic and technical exhibitions.

Located in the business center of Beijing Xizhimenwai Street, Xicheng District, BEC stands close to Zhongguancun Technical Park to the north, faces Beijing Financial Street and offices of national ministries and commissions to the south, abuts on the Beijing Zoo to the west and connects an advanced rail system, including the Xizhimen underground station, urban railway terminal and the north station of Beijing Railway Station to the east.

BEC has 12 exhibition halls, a 22,000 sqm indoor venue, a 10,000 sqm outdoor exhibition space, and a 15,000 sqm parking lot, offering the capacity for holding large exhibitions and conferences.

Since the opening, the exhibition center has welcomed more than one thousand fairs and exhibitions sponsored by domestic and overseas customers, effectively promoting the economic and technical cooperation, cultural exchange and commercial intercourse between China and the world.