Chongqing — As evening falls, Chongqing is extending commercial activity into the night through large-scale lighting projects, cultural events and tourism services, positioning its nighttime economy as a new driver of urban consumption.

According to Chongqing Daily, the city has been expanding after-dark consumption scenarios by integrating culture, digital technology, entertainment and retail activity, particularly during the year-end and Spring Festival period.

Local authorities say the strategy is aimed at increasing both the diversity and quality of nighttime services while enhancing Chongqing’s competitiveness as a major night tourism destination in western China.

From the observation deck at Raffles City, visitors can view illuminated high-rises, river bridges and the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers. High-altitude leisure facilities operate into the evening, and drone light shows are staged nightly.

Along Nanbin Road, Changbin Road, Chaotianmen and Jiangbeizui, an area commonly known locally as the “Two Rivers and Four Banks,” nighttime tourism now includes sightseeing, dining, shopping and live entertainment. Municipal authorities said a number of new multi-format night projects will be introduced before the Spring Festival.

A rendering of the lighting installation for the “Xihuan Ni” large-scale water lantern show at Chongqing Garden Expo Park. (Photo/Organizer)

One of the largest events is the 2026 Chongqing Spring Lantern Festival, which will hold its lighting ceremony on Jan. 30 at Chongqing Garden Expo Park before opening to the public the following day. The event is organized by Chongqing Daily Media Group and branded in Chinese as the “Xihuan Ni” Lantern Festival.

Spanning more than 1,000 mu (about 67 hectares), the festival features six themed zones that blend traditional lantern art with digital lighting, cultural markets, live performances and interactive activities.

At Chongqing Children’s Park, the Children’s Park · Light and Shadow Invitational Exhibition is also under way. Fourteen artist teams from seven countries have created nearly 20 interactive installations, using architectural projection and immersive digital techniques to enhance nighttime cultural experiences for families.

Molten iron is splashed onto the lake during a traditional “iron flower” performance on the Lantern Festival at Chongqing Happy Valley Theme Park, Chongqing. (Photo/Zhang Jinhui)

Chongqing Happy Valley Theme Park has extended its evening operations through a year-round night festival program. Its seasonal series, known in Chinese as Shanyao Huanxi, includes Spring Festival activities such as parades, interactive performances and traditional cultural shows, including Sichuan Opera face-changing, Yingge dance and “iron flower” displays.

In addition, Yuzhong District, Nan’an District and Liangjiang New Area have launched Spring Festival–themed nighttime programs to further expand dining, retail and cultural consumption.

Cruise boats pass beneath Qiansimen Bridge on the Jialing River as tourists take nighttime sightseeing tours during the Spring Festival holiday in Chongqing. (Photo/Liu Hui)

At dusk, the Changhang Chaotian Xinghe cruise ship departs from Chaotianmen Wharf for a night cruise along the Yangtze and Jialing rivers.

The vessel is part of Chongqing’s upgraded Two Rivers Cruise program and is the city’s first urban sightseeing cruise ship to receive China’s highest-level certification for environmentally friendly vessels. It integrates sightseeing with performances, business events and themed activities.

According to data released by municipal shipping authorities, Chongqing’s Two Rivers Cruise program carried 3.699 million passengers in 2025, equivalent to 103.3% of the 2024 total. Night cruises accounted for 89% of passengers, compared with 11% for daytime cruises. The average nighttime passenger load rate reached 79%, while daytime cruises recorded an average load rate of 18.1%. Monthly passenger volume remained stable throughout the year at an average of about 308,000 passengers, indicating reduced seasonal fluctuations.

Additional data highlight broader nighttime consumption trends. Chongqing Happy Valley Theme Park reported that nighttime visitors accounted for 26% of total admissions in 2025, rising to 51% during the summer season. In Jiujie, a nightlife area in Liangjiang New Area, average daily foot traffic reaches about 40,000 people and exceeds 60,000 during holidays, with tourists accounting for more than 60% of visitors. Nanbin Road has developed into a 24-hour economic zone integrating parks, hotels, cultural venues and dining services, attracting tens of millions of visitors annually.

Chongqing also hosts several national-level nighttime cultural and tourism consumption clusters, including areas around Jiefangbei and Hongyadong in Yuzhong District, Guanyinqiao’s entertainment zone in Liangjiang New Area, Ciqikou Ancient Town in Shapingba District, and the Changjiahui–Danzishi riverfront in Nan’an District.

Crowds gather along roads, bridges and sightseeing boats during the May Day holiday night tour peak at Hongyadong in Yuzhong District, Chongqing. (Photo/Zhang Jinhui)

A 2025 report on China’s night economy released by the China Tourism Academy found that nighttime spending accounted for 32.9% of total tourist consumption nationwide from January to October.

Luo Zibo, a senior researcher at a tourism research base affiliated with the China Tourism Academy and director of the Cultural and Tourism Development Research Institute of Chongqing, said nighttime demand is increasingly shaped by diversity, novelty and social interaction. He noted that cities must continue integrating culture, technology and tourism through immersive performances, digital lighting and interactive design, while strengthening supporting services and policy coordination.

Analysts say Chongqing’s experience reflects a broader national trend, as nighttime consumption becomes an increasingly important stabilizing force for tourism, retail and service industries while urban economies seek new sources of growth.