Visitors gather at Tank Changsha (1936), a creative park converted from an industrial site left idle in the 1990s, in Changsha, Hunan province, on Monday. GENG FEIFEI/CHINA DAILY
Among 12 rust-streaked oil tanks on the east bank of the Xiangjiang River in Changsha, Hunan province, young visitors sip coffee, browse art and shop for handmade crafts, while live music and an immersive dinner show stretch spending into the night.
Tank Changsha (1936) creative park, converted from an industrial site left idle in the 1990s, shows how Central China's Hunan is trying to turn local culture, idle urban assets and nighttime activity into new demand for services.
The strategy comes as China seeks to make domestic demand the main driving force and a stabilizing anchor for economic growth as consumers increasingly channel more spending toward experiences.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, China's service retail sales rose 5.3 percent year-on-year in the first half, outpacing the 1.1 percent increase in goods retail sales. Overall retail sales of consumer goods rose 1.3 percent year-on-year.
