Travel when the sun goes down: Beijing in drive to boost nightlife
Wang Yutong

Sanlitun, a shopping and entertainment area in east Beijing, is bustling with life, well after the sunset. Restaurants there are brimming with patrons and the streets are flooded with revelers. Bars, KTV rooms, cinemas and cultural exhibitions are all open for business. Even at a time near midnight, life is still young in the Chinese capital.

Sanlitun at night in Beijing, China. /VCG Photo

Sanlitun at night in Beijing, China. /VCG Photo

China has been working to liven up its night economy with cities like Beijing rolling out a slew of measures to encourage businesses and consumers to make the best of the night, every night.

Shopping malls are adding escape rooms, theaters, and e-sports venues to their array of outlets and signing musicians, DJs and other artists for live shows. One such example is Hopson One, which is opening a "late-night canteen" where interactive activities will be part of the existing 20,000-square-meter underground food and beverage area.

These novel offerings are bringing people out of their houses and into entertainment centers. Foot traffic at shopping malls is peaking between 6 p.m. and midnight, according to data.

And these facilities are also introducing seasonal activities. Starting this month, Xiangyun Town in Shunyi District is holding an ice and snow activities and light shows at night.

They're also bringing the fun indoors. Heping Guoju, in the busy Wangfujing area, is a 2,400-square-meter space that takes visitors back in time to old Beijing and its plethora of traditional foods. It opens till 10:00 p.m. every day.

A corner of Heping Guoju, located in the Wangfujing area. /VCG Photo

A corner of Heping Guoju, located in the Wangfujing area. /VCG Photo

Several museums, exhibitions and art galleries like the National Museum and Capital Museum have extended their opening hours and hosted nighttime activities such as the "Night at the Museum" program and evening movie shows.

Public gardens like the Beihai Park, Tiantan Park, and Jingshan Park are joining in on the fun with night tours. Nangong Wuzhou Botanical Park pushed its business hours from 6:00 p.m. to 10 p.m., offering nature lovers the chance to enjoy animals and plants at night.

Night at Tiantan Park. /VCG Photo

Night at Tiantan Park. /VCG Photo

The Beijing municipal government is launching a "nightlife consumption guide" soon, detailing where locals and tourists looking for after-dark fun can go.

(With input from People's Daily)