Mountain city leads the country for fourth consecutive year, report says

With a unique landscape and dazzling night view, the mountain city of Chongqing has been leading the nighttime economic development in the country for four consecutive years, according to the latest report released on Wednesday.

Other major cities — Shanghai, Changsha, Beijing, Shenzhen, Xi'an, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Xiamen and Nanjing — complete the list of the 2023 China nighttime economic development index released by iiMedia Research, a data mining and analysis organization for new economic industries based in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province.

The nighttime economy refers to business activities that take place between 6 pm and 6 am in the service sector.

In addition to the offline businesses at night, the report also points out that online consumption saw a boom during the COVID-19 pandemic, and livestreaming commerce is now also a major part of the nighttime economy.

It also says that sports activities and cultural events have become popular in the cities rather than traditional nighttime activities such as going to night markets, bars and KTVs.

The nighttime economy has emerged as a new driving force for consumption across China in recent years, bringing new vitality to urban socioeconomic development as the weather warms up.

Many businesses, such as restaurants, shopping malls and museums, are open for longer hours. Night markets draw people from nearby neighborhoods. Sports venues and gyms are full of sweaty people. A series of music festivals, concerts and dramas offer art lovers plenty of choices.

"Due to the changes of lifestyles and consumption habits of city dwellers, more and more people like to spend money at night," Zhang Wei, deputy director of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation under the Ministry of Commerce, said at the 2023 China Nighttime Economy Development Summit held in Chongqing on Wednesday.

"Nighttime consumption has huge growth potential."

Located on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River in Southwest China, the mega city of 34 million people is a major trade center. Thanks to mild weather, local people have a habit of going out at night, when 60 percent of the consumption happens, according to the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce.

"When we talk about Chongqing, our biggest impression is its night view, which greatly boosts its nighttime economy," said Zhang Yi, CEO and chief analyst of iiMedia Research. "The city ranks high in policy support, convenience, service quality and consumer recognition."

In 2020, the Chongqing municipal government released guidelines to boost the nighttime economy as part of efforts to speed up high-quality development, aiming to make the nighttime economy a key driver for consumption growth and economic development.

"Chongqing boasts many natural advantages that contribute to the development of the nighttime economy, with its beautiful mountains, rivers, bridges and landscapes," said Peng Heliang, deputy director of the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce. "Chongqing's nighttime economy has become a new engine in building an international consumption center."