Nanning Nightlife: More Than You Can Imagine

By Chen Zhiying

The name Nanning literally means “peace in the south” as historically the imperial government used Nanning as a stronghold to aid the integration of the south of China with the north. Nowadays, the city has undoubtedly grown into a burgeoningmetropolis. Prosperous as Nanning is, its nightlife is nowhere as varied as Shanghai’s, but people still can have relatively diverse choices. They are in search of a recreational or a quiet place at their interests. For instance, release souls in the bookstore, have a walk along the river, or enjoy an exotic performance in the barstreet. A wide range of places appealing to all appetites are available within the city.

Zhongshan Road: A food paradise

Nightlife in Nanning can be best embodied in the Zhongshan Road Snack Street which tucked away behind the Yongjiang Hotel along the main river and the commercial zone. Because Chinese people take their food seriously, so even in a medium-sized city like Nanning, there has to be a street like Zhongshan Road. As one of the top ten gourmet streets in Nanning, Zhongshan Road is popular in Nanning for foodie travelers. In an old part of the city center, dozens of street restaurants and food stalls pile up local delicacies, such as squid kebabs, grilled oysters, roasted pigeon, fermented fruits and vegetables, stinky tofu, and noodles of all kinds, revealing the strong market culture. The alignment of skewers is a feast for the eyes and the mix of smells changes every time when something new is grilled. Snacks are popular not only among the locals but also among many tourists. It takes ten minutes to walk in the daytime, but it is almost impossible to walk at night. There will be more than ten customers waiting to taste the food in front of each stall. The food here shares many similarities with that of Cantonese cuisine. It is about the freshness, tenderness and nourishment of the dishes. Besides local flavor, by virtue of its unique geographical location, Nanning has also brought together and integrated the cuisine from Southeast Asian countries and regions, enriching people’s choices. You will have more problems staying focused, since most of the food here is delicious. It is very busy all night. From 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m., diners enjoy themselves here.

Folk Song Lake: An integration of quietness and busyness

Located between Jinhu Square Business District and Hangyang International Business District, Folk Song Lake (Minge Lake) is an important leisure and entertainment place in the core area of Langdong CBD. It provides a new charming tourist area integrating tourism, leisure bars and cultural entertainment. The night views of Folk Song Lake are fascinating. As long as you have stayed in Folk Song Lake at night, few people will not fall in love with it, because in addition to the architectural community that can be seen in the daytime, the lighting design of Folk Song Lake at night is quite painstaking. After nightfall, the neon lights in Folk Song Lake are flashing. Against the colorful neon lights, the buildings feature unique characteristics which are different from that of daytime. Young people in beautiful clothes walk into the bar to drink and have fun with friends and talk with each other, releasing the fatigue of the day. Besides its busyness, the Folk Song Lake also has a different side. It also functions as a tranquillizer to the busy metropolitan world. After partying, people can take a battery boat or a pedal boat to enjoy the night scenery of Folk Song Lake. Along the lake, a large number of landmark buildings and scenic spots slowly unfold.A tour along the lake just like traveling in the timeline of Nanning from ancient times to the present. Late at night, it is a good place for people to enjoy the breeze or to see the starry sky reflected in the water on boats. In addition, the natural environment has provided local people with fantastic places to walk and rest in the evening.

Three Streets and Two Lanes: A combination of modernness and tradition

“Three Streets and Two Lanes” refer to three old streets — Xingning Road, Minsheng Road and Jiefang Road, and two ancient lanes — Golden Lion Lane and Silver Lion Lane. The historical and cultural block Three Streets and Two Lanes have preserved many architectural complexes in the early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and the late Qing Dynasty (1636-1912). The old houses with green bricks and black tiles reflect the diligence and wisdom of ancient craftsmen. The arcades connected together contain the historical and cultural customs of the “old Nanning” and witness the changes of time. At night, when the lights are on, Three Streets and Two Lanes are becoming more and more lively. There are some traditional food, ancient streets and various museums of the old Nanning. Sugar painting, paper fan painting, hand-made handicrafts and other traditional handicrafts and intangible cultural heritage products attract lots of people to visit. A series of cultural exhibition halls and art centers such as Lijiang Bookstore are also crowded with people in the evening. Local well-known restaurants with famous historical and cultural characteristics and Guangxi time-honored brand stores can be seen everywhere. Buildings here not only have a profound cultural and historical flavor, but also show the fashion and prosperity of the modern city. Starbucks, KFC and other international famous chain brands have established their presences here, adding vitality to the ancient buildings. After one day’s work, people will gather here to chat, to drink or to hang around. What a leisurely life!

The nightlife in this city is vibrant, and when the lights switch on at the dusk, the cityscape looks irresistibly dazzling. Its night is as wonderful as day! Come and join the most wonderful nightlife in Nanning.

· Source: China-ASEAN Panorama