City tops China's night economy index

The ongoing 2025 Shanghai Night Festival opened on June 6, marking the start of a vibrant summer season in the city.

At the launch ceremony, the Rising Lab of Yicai — a Shanghai-based business media outlet — released the 2025 China Night Economy Index, placing Shanghai at the top for the fifth consecutive year.

The comprehensive index evaluates the night-time vitality of 337 Chinese cities at or above the prefecture level. Assessment dimensions include night-time travel activities, the number of bars, night-time lighting coverage, late-night film screenings and public transportation availability during evening hours.

According to the latest data from the end of 2024, Shanghai recorded:

·4.03 million night-time trips per day

·2,906 bars citywide

·75 percent of the urban area illuminated at night

·264,900 late-night film screenings annually

·1,975 square kilometers covered by night-time public transportation

Key nightlife hotspots in the city include East Nanjing Road and People's Square, the Wujiaochang area, Jing'an Temple, the Xujiahui area, Zhongshan Park, Changshou Road, Global Harbor shopping center and Ruihong Tiandi shopping center.

This year's festival, themed "Night Live Goes On", will run from June to September as part of the Shanghai Summer International Consumption Season.

The program features 130 themed night events and will also introduce innovative experience packages like "public transit + shopping" and "cruise + shopping" — offering residents and tourists a deeper dive into Shanghai's dynamic after-dark culture.