Residents stroll along a brightly lit street in Hohhot, in Inner Mongolia. [Photo/Inner Mongolia Morning News]

Hohhot -- capital city of North China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region -- recently unveiled a three-year plan for developing its night economy, according to local media reports.

The term night economy refers to various kinds of commercial and shopping activities that are available after dusk -- predominantly food, entertainment, tourism and transport services. 

Hohhot takes on a different character, as the sun goes down. [Photo [provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Under the plan, Hohhot will to develop a number of consumer areas with good designs and layouts, standardized management and special features.

They will be located in key areas such as commercial central areas, tourist attractions, historical and cultural blocks and cultural and sports entertainment areas.

Commercial pedestrian malls and large-scale commercial complexes will extend business hours and increase then number of businesses there suited to night shopping, officials said.

In the vicinity of the new night economy areas, the city plans to increase metro trains and buses, extend their operating times and increase the parking spaces and taxi ranks.