Wang Jingli wangjingli0715@163.com WHEN the sun goes down, a night market in Yantian District lights up the sky with crowds of people queuing for luscious delicacies. Located at the Yantian International Creative Harbor in Shatoujiao Subdistrict, the small Hong Kong Night Market, reportedly Shenzhen’s first night block featuring Hong Kong cuisine, officially opened to the public Saturday after a trial operation. Jointly created by a group of beginning entrepreneurs from Shenzhen and Hong Kong, the 10,000 sqm market accommodates some 40 stalls offering over 200 varieties of Hong Kong food. A fun place to relax A citizen surnamed Lin told Shenzhen Daily that he enjoys the market’s lively atmosphere. The whole environment is also very clean, so it is a good way to let off some steam, Lin added. Another resident surnamed Chen who lives nearby said it is a good place to spend the night with friends. In addition to tasty foods, people can also enjoy music performances at the market, which in the eyes of some of the people interviewed by the reporter is an extra reason that attracts them. Liao Jiating, designer of the night market, said that the original idea was to create a Shenzhen-Hong Kong consumption area integrating elements of the two cities. Since its trial operation was launched June 22, the market has seen a flow of over 20,000 visitors, according to Liao. Opportunities for startups The night market has attracted young people from both Shenzhen and Hong Kong to launch a small business. “I bring many Hong Kong cultural stuff and snacks to citizens here in Shenzhen,” a vendor surnamed Cho from Hong Kong said. According to local Chinese media reports, the night market operators not only offer reductions in rent and water and electricity fee, but also provide comprehensive services such as entrepreneurship training. A stall owner surnamed Jiang said that he can sell about 100 cups of lemonades and 300 to 400 kebabs each day and is satisfied with his business performance. Another vendor, also surnamed Jiang who lives in Shatoujiang, said that the night market has provided a chance for people like him to start up a business. Jiang sells Chinese rice puddings (Boot Jai Goh), a slightly chewy, mildly sweet and a delightful traditional snack. Booming night economy In recent years, Yantian District has been putting efforts to create a series of night consumption scenarios in a bid to boost consumption. Yantian will cultivate a batch of night economy projects at core areas such as Zhongying Street, Shatoujiao Checkpoint and Tianxin industrial park, according to a construction plan of the Shatoujiao Shenzhen-Hong Kong International consumption cooperation demonstration area unveiled by the district last year. Shenzhen has become one of the most dynamic and prosperous megacities for night economy in China, Shenzhen Special Zone Daily reported last December. Meituan’s data indicated that Shenzhen’s proportion of consumption after 10 p.m. to the whole day’s total ranked first among 16 Chinese cities, according to the report. Yu Lingqu from the China Development Institute said that Shenzhen’s economic development is supported by the night economy while the night economy development is attributed to night consumption. Consumption will be the main driving force for future economic growth, providing more impetus for economic development. | 