Heilongjiang's capital city of Harbin will introduce a series of measures to light up its economy after dark in an attempt to make it a new driving force of the local economy.

“The nighttime economy refers to business activity between 6 pm and 6 am in the services sector, including entertainment, dining, shopping, and studying,” said Li Xinjian, executive dean of the Capital Culture and Tourism Development Institute of Beijing International Studies University, at the 2019 Nighttime Economy Symposium held in Harbin on Aug 24.

Many Chinese cities, especially large metropolises such as Beijing and Shanghai, have rolled out plans to bolster nighttime markets.

Professors and experts at the symposium said that Harbin should take advantage of its rich culture and tourist attractions to boost the popularity of nighttime sightseeing.

Harbin, capital of China’s northernmost province, is home to northern minority groups with a strong culture and history.

The city also has a strong exotic flavor, boasting elements of both eastern and western history. This has earned Harbin the nicknames “Eastern Moscow” and “Eastern Paris”, among others.

Measures such as introducing more nighttime sightseeing routes and improving tourism facilities and services based on feedback from tourists will soon be implemented.