A large roving live-action show is staged in Changde, Hunan province, on Aug 13. Visitors follow performers to experience the region's history and charm. GENG FEIFEI/CHINA DAILY
As night falls over Changde in Central China's Hunan province, visitors board boats and follow actors along a historical riverside quarter, moving between illuminated waterways, old streets and a small theater as Changde Stories unfolds.
The immersive production, which blends local history, traditional opera and digital projections, has become a primary engine for the city's burgeoning night-time economy. After the show, visitors spill into nearby restaurants and handicraft shops, extending an evening of entertainment into hours of consumer spending.
This integrated model is helping the Changde River Street block convert into business for local merchants. The 1.5-kilometer block received 18.25 million visits in 2025, up 75 percent year-on-year, while revenue rose 58.9 percent to 1.24 billion yuan ($184.39 million), according to local official data.
Crucially, more than 70 percent of revenue was generated at night, underscoring the commercial value of retaining visitors in the area beyond daytime sightseeing.
