A list showcasing the 10 cities with the most influential nighttime economies in China last year was announced on Jan 20 in Beijing, with Qingdao, Shandong province ranking third. Qingdao's West Coast New Area and Chengyang district were both included among the top 20 districts and counties list.  

The night landscape of Qingdao [Photo/VCG]

Also on the top 10 cities with most influential nighttime economies were Chongqing, Changsha, Chengdu, Shanghai, Beijing, Wuhan, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Tianjin.

The nighttime economy refers to business activities between 6 pm and 6 am in the service sector. A number of cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Jinan, the Shandong provincial capital, have rolled out measures to shore up the nighttime economy, also known as after-hours economic activity, since 2019.

Nighttime economy is an important part of urban economy and also an important symbol to measure the economic vitality of a city, according to industry experts.

The Qingdao government has launched a string of policies to support growth of the nighttime economy and better meet demand for more high-quality, diversified and convenient consumption options. The moves include later closing hours at tourist spots, museums, sports grounds and art galleries, as well as longer operating hours for public transport.

The city also released a series of measures to regularize various types of nighttime economy, such as street stalls and night markets.