Analysts say the live performance industry is experiencing a growth spurt and has become a new driver of cultural and tourism consumption.

　　Last June, Li celebrated her 30th birthday by watching a concert featuring her pop music icon Jay Chou in Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province. In addition to attending the spectacle, she also spent four days exploring this popular tourist destination.

　　“I visited some scenic spots and tried spicy specialties in Changsha. It was a fancy birthday gift,“ Li said, revealing that her concert and travel costs amounted to around 3,000 yuan.

　　The magnet effect of live performance is considerable in terms of stimulating consumption. The Changsha concert attended by Li had attracted more than 130,000 visitors from outside the city -- directly resulting in tourism consumption totaling 518 million yuan, according to local tourism authority.

　　A consultancy firm in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou predicted that China's performance market value would exceed 96 billion yuan in 2025.

　　China has moved to tap into the surging live performance economy. The State Council, China's cabinet, released a set of policy measures aiming at “fostering new growth drivers and boosting cultural and tourism consumption“ in January, requiring improvement in live performances and other entertainment activities.

　　Local governments also rolled out moves such as reducing or exempting rental costs for venues, issuing consumption subsidies and coupons, and green-lighting applications for such activities.

　　With an expanding audience and warming industrial environment, new types of live performances have emerged to meet people's rising demands, such as talk and magic shows, which are accessible in both major and small cities in China.