Storyline: Night economy booms in southwest China's Chengdu [Voice_over] When the sun sets on Chengdu — a magnet for the young and hip — the fun is just beginning. The city of 20 million has some of the most vibrant nightlife in China, and this is one of the hottest clubs in town. Every night, in this theater-like hall, an army of singers belts out Chinese and Western pop songs on a stage said to be world-class. [Sound_bite] Demon, manager, Kezee nightclub: "Our sound system uses the Marathon brand — the same one Michael Jackson used in his concerts." [Voice_over] But for Chengdu’s savvy partygoers, pleasing the eyes and ears is not enough. A top club must also include a top kitchen. [Sound_bite] Demon, manager, Kezee nightclub: "When it comes to food and drink, it’s absolutely central for Sichuan. People here love to eat. Take this beef, for example: every day we prepare a rich stock using fresh beef, then marinate it on the spot. The process takes six hours each day." [Voice_over] Food is at the heart of going out in Chengdu. A night often starts with a meal, moves through various nibbles, and ends with a round of barbecue — Chinese people’s favorite late-night eats. These skewers create livelihoods for countless small and medium business owners. [Sound_bite] Yuan Chengcui, owner, barbecue restaurant: "The restaurant opens from five in the afternoon to nine in the morning. I’m open 16 hours every day, so it’s very demanding. But for ordinary people like me, it doesn’t require much technical skill. You just need to be able to handle the effort and late nights. And because of running this barbecue, I was able to buy my first home. So I really love doing barbecue." [Voice_over] Last year, the municipality of Chengdu rolled out “55 Measures” to support private businesses, including allowing street-front shops to expand operations outdoors. The consensus among businesses is that consumers aren’t splurging these days, so they do what they can to boost earnings. In the hyper-competitive bubble tea industry, some shops are now open 24 hours. [Sound_bite] Liao Shengjie, outlet manager,CHAGEE: "Being open 24 hours will boost our store’s Gross Merchandise Value or GMV. Milk tea sales from midnight to 7 a.m. make up about 10 percent of our total." [Voice_over] For the city’s night owls and the economy,some midnight caffeine is welcome. [Restrictions : No access Chinese mainland]