Seizing the night

A love for night jaunts

Outdoor night markets have always been popular among Shanghai residents.

Shanghai has more than 3.38 million people who have a habit of going out at night, according to the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce. An index released by the commission last September also ranked Shanghai as the top city in terms of the nighttime economy in China. It was followed by Shenzhen, Beijing and Chengdu.

On March 30, the Sijing night market in Shanghai's Songjiang district was reopened to the public following its closure in January due to poor management and sanitary conditions. According to local officials, people have been flocking to the market, with as many as 90,000 visiting the venue in a single night.

Officials also shared with the media that the number of vendors at the market is set to grow.

"We are determined to make the nighttime economy a new highlight of the city. We will continue exploring options to bolster this sector," said an unnamed official in a news report by local media The Paper.

LARP (live action role playing) venues have also been eager to tap the growing nighttime crowds to boost revenue. Huang Zhengzhong, who runs the DC Taotaowu escape rooms in Shanghai, said he is hoping to expand to 24-hour commercial spaces to prolong his operation hours and capitalize on the growing crowds.

"There are no restrictions on business hours and customers are allowed to enter and exit at will in the shopping malls. Some customers will stay till 4 am," Huang explained.

As of July 2022, Shanghai had more than 1,000 LARP venues, surpassing Beijing, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou, according to market consultancy iiMedia.

"Our stores have the most customers from 3 pm to midnight. The turnover during this period accounts for 60 to 70 percent of the total turnover," Huang added.

"If we are located in commercial spaces that can operate around the clock, we could generate more income at night."

Gao Yi, the owner of Meow Game, said many LARP venues have been extending their operating hours to accommodate more late-night customers.

"Some dungeon masters are more willing to work at night because they can earn more," he noted.