Dazzling lantern shows at Qingxiu Mountain Scenic Area in Nanning. [Photo by Lin Hao/chinanews.com]

Nanning, capital city of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, is seeking to speed up its transformation into a regional international tourism city and an ideal shopping destination for ASEAN visitors.

The highest annual passenger throughput of Nanning's international airlines during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-20) exceeded 1 million, and the city's highest annual tourism spend during the same time period hit 170 billion yuan ($26 billion).

Nanning was listed among China's first batch of pilot cities for cultural and tourism consumption in 2020. 

Deng Yaping, head of Nanning's publicity department, revealed these figures in Nanning on April 14, during the opening ceremony of a celebration event for the traditional Sanyuesan Festival.

The event, aimed at boosting nighttime tourism consumption and promoting the integrated development of tourism and culture, was jointly held by the Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the Department of Commerce of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and the Nanning municipal government.

The night economy has been playing a vital role in expanding domestic demand and stabilizing economy growth in recent years. The city has been devoting efforts towards building a batch of popular tourist attractions for night tourism, such as Fantawild Asian Legend and Qingxiu Mountain Scenic Area.

Deng said that a series of celebrations such as lantern shows, music festivals and opera weeks will be held in Nanning to create an unforgettable experience for tourists.