Seizing the night

Businesses in Shanghai have been extending operating hours as the city looks to boost its nighttime economy

After being affected by pandemic control measures for the past three years, Shanghai's nighttime economy looks to be finally on the rebound as businesses have been busy unveiling new offerings catered to the evening crowd.

The nighttime economy refers to business activities that take place between 6 pm and 6 am in the service sector. The municipal government is aiming to make the nighttime economy a key driver for consumption growth and economic development.

Last September, the Shanghai municipal government released guidelines to boost the nighttime economy as part of efforts to speed up economic recovery. The guidelines, which are effective from 2022 to 2025, aim to create a "24-hour city of vibrancy" that has signature nightlife neighborhoods and clusters, night markets and night leisure spaces on waterfronts.

To achieve its goals, the government has encouraged cultural and entertainment businesses to extend their operating hours and, more importantly, explore new business models to attract more customers.

One of the first establishments to adjust its operating hours to cater to the nighttime crowds is Shanghai Museum. On February 11, the museum extended its opening hours from 5 pm to 9 pm every Wednesday and Saturday. Starting from April 18th, the museum has been holding night exhibitions every day that it is open.

In addition, the museum will close at 11 pm during the May Day holidays.

"When I learned that the Shanghai Museum was going to be open at night, I wanted to make an appointment immediately," said visitor Chen Xi.

"As it turned out, I wasn't the only person trying to do so. I could only make a booking after trying for two days."

One of the main reasons the Shanghai Museum wanted to introduce night sessions is the strong demand for certain exhibitions like the Botticelli to Van Gogh Masterpieces from the National Gallery showcase, which kicked off on Jan 17. This exhibition features 52 paintings from 50 renowned European artists, including Raphael, Titian, Rembrandt, Paul Cezanne and Monet Claude.

The exhibition welcomed more than 300,000 visitors as of April 18, according to Li Feng, the deputy curator of the Shanghai Museum.

Another reason why the museum decided to extend its opening hours was to support the local government's campaign to bolster the nighttime economy, Li added.