The performance market in Tianhe district of Guangzhou in South China's Guangdong province has been booming in this year, driving a new leap from a concert craze to economic growth.

From January to July, Tianhe Sports Center and Guangdong Olympic Sports Center hosted 36 large-scale concerts, attracting 1.3 million foot traffic. The concerts generated direct ticket sales of 880 million yuan ($130 million), spurring related consumption of over 6 billion yuan.

Tianhe aims to establish the Guangdong Olympic cultural, sports and performance demonstration zone. With plans to release nine land parcels and host over 50 concerts and 40 sports events, the district is accelerating the rise of the Olympic sports city.

The district's entertainment ecosystem is thriving, hosting over 30,000 commercial performances each year. Venues like Guangzhou Opera House and 1974 Theatre enrich the cultural landscape. Tianhe's multi-tiered performance supply system ranges from major concerts to intimate live houses.

Policy support is strong in the district, with initiatives like "the Three-Year Action Plan to Build a Strong Cultural District" and the "Ticket Economy" brand, integrating performances with tourism and consumption through the "One Mobile Phone Tour Tianhe" digital platform.

Tianhe is transforming the concert craze into a catalyst for sustained regional economic growth.

This photo features Jolin Tsai's "PLEASURE" 2026 tour staging two consecutive shows at Guangdong Olympic Sports Center Stadium on Aug 7-8. [Photo/Southern Daily]