Dao Lang concerts boost Yichang’s retail and tourism

By Chen Si.

Chinese folk music icon Dao Lang held two concerts in Yichang from August 2 to 3, significantly boosting the local retail and tourism sectors.
 

Dao Lang's Yichang concerts take place at the indoor stadium (the venue at the bottom left) of the Olympic Sports Center in Yichang.

Preliminary data from the Yichang Culinary and Hotel Industry Association shows that total consumption in the urban area from August 1 to 3 rose over 37.5 percent compared to a typical weekend, contributing nearly 40 million yuan (US$5.51 million).

His concerts also pushed occupancy rates for large and medium-sized hotels in the city to over 95 percent, according to the Yichang Municipal Bureau of Commerce.

Dao Lang, whose real name is Luo Lin, is a renowned singer who was active in the Chinese folk song scene from 2003 to 2013. After coming out of retirement in 2024, he began touring across China, drawing in fans due to his earlier success. His two concerts at the Olympic Sports Center in Yichang attracted tens of thousands of fans from across the country.
 

Dao Lang

Yichang prepared extensively for the concerts, hosting an outdoor viewing party for fans who could not secure indoor tickets. The city activated its weather emergency plan, enhanced network signal support, and arranged free post-concert bus services.
 

Dao Lang's Yichang concerts take place at the indoor stadium of the Olympic Sports Center.

Ahead of the event, Yichang added four free shuttle services with 200 buses from the city center to the stadium. Eighty-four government-run parking lots in the urban area were also made available at no charge.

The city released a VR-based traffic guide to the Olympic Sports Center the day before the concerts. Visitors could scan a QR code to access a visual guide of the venue's roads, parking lots, and entrance and exit routes.

Local hotels offered various promotions for fans traveling from afar.
 

Dao Lang's Yichang concerts take place at the indoor stadium of the Olympic Sports Center.

"As soon as I checked in today, the hotel gave me local specialty gifts of Yichang," said Chen Jing, a fan from Xiaogan City, Hubei Province. She said she would stay in Yichang a few days after the concert.

Xiang Daoping, general manager of Yiling Hotel, noted that fans booking rooms with concert tickets receive discounts on room rates and dining, along with complimentary Three Gorges tourism gifts in all rooms.

Major commercial complexes in the city also provided exclusive fan gifts and discounts. Additionally, Yichang launched special discounts in dining, accommodation, and scenic spots, while ensuring convenient transportation services.
 

Dao Lang’s fans from Sichuan Province.

Internet influencer "Dabao in Liuzhou," a devoted Dao Lang fan, traveled 2,100 kilometers in a motorhome across Liaoning, Shandong, Henan, and Hubei provinces to reach Yichang.

During her stay, she visited several scenic spots, including the Three Gorges Waterfall.

 "‘Bachu folk songs’ originated here, and the theme of this concert, 'Where Mountain Songs Originate,' seems fitting for this land," she said.

On the evening before the first concert, more than 920 fans from across the country cruised along the "Two Dams and One Gorge" tourist route.

"We felt happy and joyful. Yichang is rich in tourism resources, and the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River are magnificent," said Wang Qinquan, a fan from Mianyang City, Sichuan Province.

Over 50 fans from Mianyang are attending the concert and plan to spend a few days enjoying Yichang's scenery and local specialties.
 

Dao Lang’s fans from Chongqing.

Zhu Hua, a fan from Shenyang City, Liaoning Province, who has attended 11 Dao Lang concerts, said, "Yichang is a very beautiful city. We got great deals on crayfish."

Ling Huifen, a fan from the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, enjoyed cold shrimp jelly and red oil baozi. Captivated by the food and the Yangtze River views, she expressed a desire to explore Yichang further after the concert.
 

Dao Lang’s fans from Wuhan City.

In addition to the fans, internet influencer Liu Ke, a friend of Dao Lang and fellow musician, attended the concert.

"The Yichang organizers set up four singing areas, creating a warm and personal atmosphere, allowing the audience to fully immerse ourselves in the concert vibe," Liu said. He praised the venue's setup, acoustics, and overall atmosphere. "Both the hardware and software were excellent, and everyone had a fantastic time," he added, noting he would stay in Yichang for a few more days to visit the Three Gorges Dam and the Gezhouba Dam.
 

Dao Lang’s fans celebrating the success of his concert.

Fans from Anhui, Shanxi, and Shandong provinces also gathered in Yichang to pay tribute to Dao Lang with songs and instrumental performances, celebrating the concert's success.

Photo by Li Boyan, Liu Kun, Fu Beibei, Lin Xiao, Wu Yanling