Unlocking the culture and tourism appeal of Kangbashi, Ordos

In recent years, Kangbashi district in Ordos has seen rapid growth in its culture and tourism sector. From the adrenaline of its motorsport town and the cultural charm of Kangzhen town to dazzling nighttime shows along Wulanmulun Lake, three signature attractions are helping unlock the district's tourism potential.

Together, they are turning online attention into longer stays and brief visits into immersive experiences, adding new momentum to the high-quality development of Kangbashi's culture and tourism industry.

The motorsport town, built around the Ordos International Circuit, features a professional racetrack certified as Grade 2 by the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile. Since its completion in 2010, the circuit has hosted 79 national and regional events and received more than 600,000 spectators and tourists.

By integrating sports with tourism, the town has transformed niche motorsport events into carnival-style activities for the wider public. The "Warm City Grand Race," held for 45 editions, has become a landmark motorsport event in northwestern China.

Today, the motorsport town brings together the Ordos International Circuit, a karting track, a racing-themed hotel, the Taifaxiang Museum and other attractions, creating a relatively complete tourism chain covering event viewing, hands-on experiences, leisure and accommodation.

While the motorsport town reflects the youthful energy of Kangbashi, Kangzhen town embodies its cultural roots. Here, historical heritage and modern tourism trends come together, allowing visitors to experience the cultural vitality of the city as they explore its streets and attractions.

With performing arts as a key part of its tourism appeal, Kangzhen regularly hosts folk performances and traditional Chinese-style themed activities. New tourism formats such as immersive experiences and parent-child entertainment have continued to mature, while specialty dining, intangible cultural heritage products and creative cultural businesses have further enriched the area's cultural consumption offerings.

If the motorsport town and Kangzhen town answer the question of what to enjoy during the day, Kangbashi's nighttime shows offer a compelling answer to what to see after dark.

As night falls, the banks of Wulanmulun Lake come alive with fireworks, drone formations, and a laser water-screen music fountain. Together, the three attractions have become Kangbashi's signature nighttime tourism brand.

In 2025, the shows were staged 12 times, driving more than 120 million yuan in nighttime consumption. The average overnight stay of tourists increased from 1.8 days to 2.5 days.

During the 2026 May Day holiday, Kangbashi received 388,000 tourist visits and generated 148 million yuan in comprehensive tourism revenue, with the depth of culture and tourism consumption rising by 35%.

After taking in the stunning night views, many visitors chose not to leave in a hurry. Instead, they stayed longer, turning a moment of amazement into a deeper exploration of the city.