Chongqing - The inaugural regular performance of the "A Concert Night in Chongqing on Nanbin Road" took place on the evening of August 21, marking the official launch of a weekly Friday concert series that transforms the city's iconic riverside into an open-air musical stage.
On the evening of August 21, 2026, a splendid performance is underway at the "A Concert Night in Chongqing on Nanbin Road" event. (Photo/Deng Nan)
The concert series is a signature cultural initiative developed by the Nan'an District Government in partnership with the Chongqing International Culture Association (CICA), under the guidance of the Publicity Department of the CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee. The venue occupies a prime location that served as the Chongqing sub-venue for CCTV's 2025 Spring Festival Gala, offering panoramic views of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers' glittering nightscape, a 360-degree vista of neon-lit skyscrapers that locals affectionately call the "8D cyberpunk" skyline. The Friday Nanbin Concerts are designed to complement the existing Saturday "A Concert Night in Chongqing" Symphony Concerts, creating a dual-core weekend cultural attraction.
The inaugural regular performance of the "A Concert Night in Chongqing on Nanbin Road" took place on the evening of August 21. (Photo/Deng Nan)
The 75-minute debut performance was structured in three segments: "Classic Echoes," "Soundwave Original Power," and "Voice of Chongqing."
The "Classic Echoes" segment opened with the Chongqing Symphony Orchestra performing Deng Huo Li De Zhong Guo (China in the Light), followed by a soprano solo of the folk-inspired Shan Ge Hao Bi Chun Jiang Shui (Folk songs are like spring rivers), a male chorus rendition of Gu Xiang De Yun (Clouds of Hometown), and excerpts from Bizet's Carmen - the Habanera and Toreador Song - blending high-art performance with the natural grandeur of the river gorge.
On the evening of August 21, 2026, a splendid performance is underway at the "A Concert Night in Chongqing on Nanbin Road" event. (Photo/Deng Nan)
The "Soundwave Original Power" segment marked the official launch of the "Soundwave Original Music Plan," a three-part initiative comprising an incubation program for emerging songwriters, an annual original music competition, and a dedicated music chart. The plan establishes a year-round, free-to-access platform for lyricists, composers, and independent musicians nationwide, offering offline stage opportunities, online rankings, and professional competitions to discover and promote original musical talent.
On the evening of August 21, the "Soundwave Original Music Plan" was launched officially. (Photo/Deng Nan)
All-around singer-songwriter Liu Fengyao, who serves as the plan's initiator, took the stage alongside emerging artist Zhang Zhitong. Zhang debuted his new original song, while Liu performed his viral hit to an enthusiastic reception.
On the evening of August 21, 2026, a splendid performance was underway at the "A Concert Night in Chongqing on Nanbin Road" event. (Photo/Deng Nan)
The "Voice of Chongqing" segment embodied the philosophy that "everyone can create, everyone can take the stage." The first self-recommended amateur work selected for the main stage was Village T-Walk Turns into Spring, composed and penned by local Chongqing music enthusiast Xu Zuguo. The segment also featured the dynamic violin piece Victory, a male vocal group performance of the traditional Bayu folk song, and a male-female duet accompanied by an acrobatic performance from the Chongqing Acrobatic Troupe.
On the evening of August 21, 2026, a splendid performance is underway at the "A Concert Night in Chongqing on Nanbin Road" event. (Photo/Deng Nan)
Organizers also announced a global open call for submissions for the official "A Concert Night in Chongqing" theme song, inviting composers worldwide to contribute.
On the evening of August 21, 2026, a splendid performance is underway at the "A Concert Night in Chongqing on Nanbin Road" event. (Photo/Deng Nan)
Beyond the music, the concert series is designed to integrate with the local nightlife economy. The initiative will collaborate with commercial districts along the Changjiahui area and the Danzishi Old Street cluster to host music-themed markets featuring intangible cultural heritage crafts and street performances, creating an integrated "concert + sightseeing + leisure + consumption" cultural tourism experience.
On the evening of August 21, 2026, audience members are enjoying a wonderful vocal performance. (Photo/Deng Nan)
Looking ahead, the "A Concert Night in Chongqing" cultural IP will operate on two complementary tracks: the Friday Nanbin Concerts focusing on public cultural engagement, and the Saturday Symphony Concerts showcasing high-end artistic performances. With shared resources and mutual reinforcement, the two series aim to establish "A Concert Night in Chongqing" as a distinctive cultural symbol of the city and a brand with global resonance.
(Tan Rui, as an intern, also contributed to this article.)