This photo taken on January 7, 2025 shows the vibrant Guanqian Street shopping district in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. (CFP)

Promoting consumer spending has emerged as a prominent theme in government work reports of the cities within the Yangtze River Delta region, one of China's most economically vibrant regions.

Yangzhou’s report mentioned that the city hosted over 50 high-end performances and more than 30 major sporting events in 2024. Suzhou’s report specifically noted that the city recorded large-scale concerts and sporting events throughout the year, with concerts held nearly every week from October to December, according to local media.

Additionally, several government work reports emphasized terms like new product launch events, nighttime economy, and holiday economy, reflecting the active exploration of innovative business models in these cities.

For the new year, several cities are planning to host more influential events and concerts to stimulate consumer spending. For example, Ningbo in Zhejiang Province has vowed to ensure the success of several international events in 2025. The city also plans to leverage the 240-hour visa-free transit policy and to launch an initiative aiming to double the number of inbound tourists within three years.

Beyond stimulating cultural and tourism consumption, Nanjing has taken the lead in Jiangsu Province to promote large-scale equipment renewal and trade-in programs of consumer goods. Wuxi has proposed expanding the types of consumer goods eligible for trade-in, simplifying the process and upgrading the Taihu Lake Shopping Festival.

Wuhu in Anhui Province has decided to foster new consumption growth areas, and establish funds dedicated to promoting consumption.