CHANGSHA: As sweltering heat waves sweep across China, a recent tourist trend has emerged after dark.
In ancient towns and even mountain parks, travellers are escaping the heat and heading out after sunset, boosting “nighttime tourism”.
At the famed Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park in Zhangjiajie, Central China’s Hunan province, the iconic 999-step stairway leading to Tianmen Cave is illuminated with kaleidoscopic hues, with the whole mountain drenched in lights, transforming the attraction into a nighttime spectacle.
“I came in the afternoon to escape the heat, but I did not expect the night view to be such a wonderful sight,” said Mauricio Olvera, a visitor from Mexico.
Ding Yunjuan, a staff member at the park, said that due to the scorching sun in the daytime, most visitors come as late as possible in the afternoon, sometimes staying until 9pm, and then go down in the moonlight.
“In response to the demand, the park has introduced evening light shows to display the landscape in the dark,” Ding said.
Since the summer vacation began, the park has drawn over 20,000 visitors daily, with night tours emerging as a major new highlight.
In recent years, China has introduced a series of measures to boost its night-time economy.
In January, the State Council released a policy document calling for the expansion of night-time cultural and tourism activities. According to a report by the country’s Commerce Ministry, 60% of consumer spending now occurs at night.
The per capita nightt-ime tourism spending is more than three times that of daytime consumption.
In late 2024, the China Tourism Academy estimated that domestic night tourism spending hit about 1.91 trillion yuan during the year.
In the provincial capital Changsha, known as one of China’s “fire stoves” night markets, immersive light shows, and after-dark performances have made the city a hot tourist destination in summer.
At a theme park featuring the Tang Dynasty (618 to 907) culture near the ruins of a 1,200-year-old Tongguan Kiln in the city, light shows, fireworks, street food, live music, and other activities have attracted tourists after sunset, with opening hours extended to midnight.
Visitors can savour spicy crayfish, participate in beer competitions, and learn about intangible cultural heritage at night, said Zhang Ning, deputy general manager of the theme park. — Xinhua/ANN
