Visitors watch a folk culture performance at Zhangjiajie, central China's Hunan Province, July 26, 2025. (Photo by Wu Yongbing/Xinhua)
As sweltering heat waves sweep across China, a recent tourist trend has emerged after dark. In ancient towns and even mountain parks, travelers 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 9 p.m., and then go down in 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 nighttime economy. In January, the State Council released a policy document calling for the expansion of nighttime cultural and tourism activities.
According to a report by the country's Ministry of Commerce, 60 percent of consumer spending now occurs at night. The per capita nighttime 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 (roughly 267 billion U.S. dollars) 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.
