Bringing the fight to the night

With the novel coronavirus outbreak reined in across China, cities have been taking measures to boost consumption. Shanghai, for instance, has turned to leveraging its nighttime economy.

Following Shanghai's Double Five Shopping Festival, an event that focused on promoting e-commerce through livestreams and virtual coupons, the city unveiled the Double Six Nightlife Festival on June 6, offering night owls a bevy of retail, dining and lifestyle options.

On the Bund

That day, the 150-meter-long Fengjing Road which leads to the southern part of the Bund was transformed into a market in the evening. The three rows of white tents housing around 100 vendors selling snacks, beers and novelties were packed with people.

"We are a weekend pop-up fair with a beautiful skyline of the Bund," says Yang Bokai, who is in charge of the market.

"You can quaff pints of Tsingtao beer or sip Rio cocktails at our eight bars, taste a variety of delicacies at the 30 food carts here, play games and watch the live concerts."

Flanked by the Fosun Art Center and the Bund Finance Center, the market also features activities held on the rooftop terraces of the BFC and the art center, where people can enjoy the view of the Bund and the skyscrapers on the other side of the Huangpu River.

"The fair will be held every weekend through the rest of the year," Yang says. "In case of rain, we've also prepared special fluorescent raincoats for the public."