China's Chongqing to bolster nighttime economy

CHONGQING - Southwest China's Chongqing municipality issued an action plan on Tuesday to bolster nighttime economy and consumption in the following five years.

The plan covers six aspects such as creating diversified sites where people can spend their nights, developing nighttime consumption brands, promoting the innovation and upgrading of the nighttime economy and improving related supporting facilities.

By 2025, Chongqing is expected to build a core zone and 10 high-quality demonstration areas for the nighttime economy across the city.

Nighttime economy refers to business activities in the service sector between 6:00 pm and the next morning. Tapping into the potential of consumption on shopping, catering and entertaining activities during the evening, the nighttime economy has been injecting new vitality into China's economic growth.

Data showed that about 60 percent of Chongqing's urban consumption occurred at night in recent years.

Many cities across China have also rolled out plans to stimulate the nighttime economy. The nightlife boom came as more Chinese citizens increased their spending on leisure.

"Nighttime economy is a sign of a city's development level and taste. It can help expand domestic demands and stimulate consumption. Chongqing will try its best to bolster the quality development of the nighttime economy," said Zhang Zhikui, director of the municipal commission of commerce.