The 橱窗 is more than just a piece of glass in modern China; it's a symbol of economic development and burgeoning consumer culture. The evolution of shop windows in China—from simple, sparse displays in the late 20th century to today's elaborate, high-tech, and artistic installations in cities like Shanghai and Beijing—mirrors the country's rapid economic transformation. A key cultural usage is the metaphor of a city or a Special Economic Zone (like Shenzhen) acting as the 橱窗 of China's “Reform and Opening Up” (改革开放, gǎigé kāifàng). This term is frequently used in state media and official discourse to portray these areas as model examples of progress, meant to be viewed and admired by the rest of the country and the world. This concept is similar to calling a place a “showcase” in English, but in China, it carries a stronger connotation of a curated, national-level presentation. While Fifth Avenue in New York has famous Christmas window displays, they are primarily commercial and artistic endeavors by private companies. A city being described as a 橱窗 in China implies a deliberate, often government-endorsed, effort to represent the nation's success on a grand scale.
In Retail and Daily Life: This is the most common usage. People use it to talk about store displays, mannequins, and the act of window shopping.
As a Metaphor for “Showcase”: This usage is common in more formal contexts like news, business, and academic writing. It describes a prime example or a model that represents the best qualities of a larger entity.