Hangzhou's nighttime economy helps boost economic recovery. [Photo/hangzhou.zjol.com.cn]

Hangzhou's nighttime economy has been experiencing a rebound as the city has made concerted efforts to leverage it to bolster economic recovery.

Some of the measures include forming the first group of 10 nightlife landmarks that can spearhead the nighttime economy.

The 10 landmarks include the areas featuring the Grand Canal and Southern Song Dynasty (1127－1279), the Yan'an Road commercial cycle, the Xiasha University City, the West Lake scenic area, the banks along the Qiantang River, the Xianghu Lake scenic area, and the Qiandao Lake scenic area.

"Hangzhou has the most potential to be a city with a prosperous nighttime economy as the city's per capita GDP has reached the standards of developed countries and its per capita consumption expenditure is growing rapidly," said Wu Huiling, a researcher at the Zhejiang Tsinghua Yangtze Delta Research Institute.

Wu added that digital technology-empowered life services will also contribute to the rise of Hangzhou's nighttime economy.

One indication of the quick recovery of the city's nighttime economy is the increasing amount of electricity being used at several major shopping areas.

By June 15, the amount of electricity used at 13 major commercial business areas at night, including the Hubin Pedestrian Street, the Wulin Commercial Area and the Wushan Commercial Area, had exceeded 95 percent of last year's total usage.

A child buys a traditional Chinese lantern, an intangible cultural heritage item, at a stall in Hangzhou. [Photo/hangzhou.zjol.com.cn]

Statistics also show that nearly 40 percent of electricity consumption in Hangzhou is done during the night.

Though Hangzhou's nighttime economy is growing rapidly, it still lags behind some Chinese cities such as Shanghai and Chengdu, according to Pan Yigang, a researcher at the Zhejiang Institute for Development Plan.

Pan said that more scenes for nighttime consumption should be set up at populous areas such as bookshops, theaters, business areas and sports fields.

Stalls are set up at the Hangzhou Hubin Pedestrian Street to boost the nighttime economy. [Photo/hangzhou.zjol.com.cn]