Hubin Commercial Street in Wuxi. [Photo/WeChat account: news-wuxixinwen]
The nightlife in Wuxi, East China's Jiangsu province, has increased, with local authorities encouraging commercial complexes, supermarkets, and other market entities to set up outdoor seating areas.
This measure is expected to boost the nighttime market economy and foster a vibrant nighttime consumption atmosphere.
As evening descends and the illumination of lights enhances the ambiance, entering the lobster restaurant located on Hubin Commercial Street provides an experience. The outdoor seating area, extending over 10 meters, captures considerable attention. The seats are consistently occupied by patrons who savor their meals, while a guitarist occasionally performs, contributing to an engaging atmosphere.
The outdoor seating of this restaurant can generate up to 70,000 yuan ($9,627) in revenue in one evening, accounting for 85 percent of the total daily turnover.
The establishment of the outdoor seating economy in Hubin Commercial Street has been a gradual process. In 2021, the area initiated an experiment with outdoor seating to foster a destination for nighttime economic activities within the Yangtze River Delta. To date, 46 establishments have engaged in this initiative, representing over 30 percent of all shops in the vicinity.
Night economy is an important indicator of a city's economic development. This year, Wuxi plans to create six distinctive outdoor signature streets and six unique markets. The city's urban management department will continue introducing more practical, heartwarming, and considerate services to stimulate market vitality.
