From July 17 to 19, the Beijing Leduogang Wanda Plaza hosted the grand opening of Daming Night Market 2.0. As the July flagship event of the 2026 “Give Summer Nights to Changping” series, organized by the Changping District government, the market fused Ming-dynasty cultural aesthetics with contemporary summer trends. The event created an immersive Ming-style evening destination featuring specialty bazaars, traditional sports, Hanfu styling experiences, immersive performances, and interactive games across a single venue.
Building on the first edition’s popularity, version 2.0 upgraded its visual scenes and interactive experiences across the board. The Wanda central plaza was divided into five Ming-theme immersive zones: market street, Cuju arena, Nishang gallery, Shaoyin music, and Xingle recreation — each step recreating a distinct Ming-dynasty street scene. Hanfu styling and Huadian (forehead ornament) services were available throughout the event, allowing visitors to dress in complete Ming-style attire and explore the illuminated streets with theatrical stages and market stalls forming picture-perfect backdrops.
The Daming Goods Bazaar ran alongside the Changping Craft Beer Micro-Intoxication Season, offering specialty booths selling cultural creative products, Guochao toys, local foods, and craft brews. A Cuju (ancient Chinese football) tournament brought competitive energy to the venue, with interactive games open to all ages, from children to adults.
Live performances included a made-for-event play titled Daming Fenghua Lu staged at the Lotus-Pattern Minghua Stage, where professional dancers portrayed Ming-dynasty ladies and bustling street scenes accompanied by the melodies of string and wind instruments. An innovative “Daming Treasure Banknote” gameplay system allowed visitors to earn currency by participating in garden walks and Cuju matches, redeemable for vouchers and gifts on site. The market was also filled with Hanfu parades, Guzheng and Pipa live performances, and lantern-lit streets, creating an atmosphere of stepping back into the Ming era.
Daming Night Market 2.0 leveraged Changping District’s deep Ming-culture heritage to activate the city’s nighttime consumption economy, establishing a new benchmark for ancient-style summer night outings in the capital. Throughout the three-day event, Hanfu-clad visitors could be seen everywhere at Leduogang Wanda Plaza, with groups of enthusiasts parading through the illuminated streets in flowing Ming-style robes under rows of hanging lanterns. The combination of Guzheng and Pipa melodies, the scent of street food, and the sight of Ming-costumed performers created a living tableau of Ming-dynasty nightlife brought to life in contemporary Beijing.
