Xi'an, the capital city of Shaanxi province, has ranked fourth in the country - and first among the cities of North China - in terms of the liveliness of its night economy, according to a report released by WeChat Pay on June 8.

A group of children play happily at Datang Everbright City in Xi'an at night. [Photo/cnwest.com]

Shenzhen in South China's Guangzhou province topped the list, following by Dongguan and Guangzhou.

The night economy refers to service sector activity between 6 pm and 6 am, which includes shopping, dining, tours, entertainment, studying, films and television, and relaxation.

After the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic this year, Xi'an introduced a raft of measures to drive the economy and attract more customers.

It encourages counties and districts to develop their night economies through the construction of pedestrian streets, such as Datang Everbright City, and allows small stores to engage in business at road sides within prescribed road sections, locations, and time periods.

In recent years, Xi'an has explored more possibilities for developing its night tourism. By constructing more night fairs, cultural performances, and entertainment businesses, Xi'an has attracted more people to enjoy the leisure and beauty of the evening.