Xuanwu Lake Park, one of Nanjing's most iconic scenic spots, has broken its traditional summer slump this year by tapping into the nighttime economy, with evening visitor numbers surging over 30 percent year on year in July.
The park is one of the iconic attractions in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province.
In previous years, the height of summer when the heat was at its peak was the park's off-season.
This summer, however, the park has seen a steady stream of visitors every evening.
As the sun sets and the daytime heat slowly dissipates, the entrances to Xuanwu Lake Park experience a surge in visitor traffic.
By 20:00, some local residents who love to sing, as well as bands, bring their own portable stereos to the park to perform.
Joining in a sing-along has become the main reason for many people to visit the park at night.
To offer residents and visitors an even richer experience, the park hosts a variety of nightly performances, including water-screen movies and holographic light shows.
Operating hours for many park attractions have also been extended; boat tours and sightseeing buses, which previously ended at 17:00 now run until 21:30.
Rong Feixia, director of Xuanwu Lake Park Management Office, said these measures have injected new vitality into the park, transforming it into a bustling nighttime destination.
"Our total number of nighttime visitors throughout July increased by over 30 percent year on year. Revenue from cultural and creative stores rose by 32.5 percent year over year and overall revenue from our self-operated projects including boat tours, sightseeing buses, and retail businesses around the lake grew by approximately 10 percent," she said.
Nighttime economy fuels summer tourism at Nanjing park
Nighttime economy fuels summer tourism at Nanjing park
