The term nighttime economy refers to business activities undertaken between 6 pm and 6 am in the services sector. It is a golden period for merchants seeking to expand their business.

As midnight rolls around in Shanghai, the city's many walking streets become crowded with visitors looking to take advantage of the numerous shopping malls and countless other recreational options the area has to offer.

According to a nightlife index released by The Rising Lab, a third-party business journalism program of Yicai Media Group, Shanghai ranks second in China, second only to Shenzhen, in terms of the vitality of its nightlife. The index measured a total of 338 cities at or above the prefecture level in China.

Many shopping malls do all they can to exploit the thriving nightlife in Shanghai. [Photo/WeChat account: scofcom]