As summer temperatures rise, several of Shanghai's zoos, museums, and green spaces are offering special nighttime programs. From close encounters with animals to sleeping beside towering dinosaur fossils, here are five after-dark experiences worth staying up for.

1. Shanghai Wild Animal Park

As night falls, animals that spend the afternoon resting in the heat begin to stir. Visitors can take a special safari vehicle into the predator zone after dark and observe Siberian tigers, African lions, cheetahs, and wolves at close range as they patrol their territories and display their natural instincts.

Other nighttime activities include a boat tour through the park's waterways, a treasure hunt experience, and an immersive light installation that transforms the grounds into a magical nighttime landscape.

What to try: Night safari, boat tour, treasure hunt, illuminated night walk

Address: No 178 Nanliu Highway, Xuanqiao town, Pudong New Area

2. Shanghai Zoo

While Shanghai Wild Animal Park focuses on immersive encounters, Shanghai Zoo offers an experience closer to a nighttime nature class.

Led by animal keepers and carrying weak-beam flashlights, visitors can search for owls, wolves, ring-tailed lemurs, and other animals while learning how their behavior changes after sunset.

For a closer look, the "night owl zoo walk" allows participants to use infrared cameras and night-vision goggles to observe animals after dark.

What to try: Guided night walk, infrared and night-vision observation

Address: No 2381 Hongqiao Road, Changning district

3. Shanghai Natural History Museum

Ever wondered what it would be like to spend the night in a museum?

The museum's overnight camp program invites visitors to explore the galleries after closing time. Guided by professional instructors, participants can discover the mysteries of natural history and the evolution of life, from the world of dinosaurs to the wider story of life on Earth.

The program also includes hands-on activities and interactions with researchers. At the end of the night, participants can set up tents beside the dinosaur fossils for an unforgettable sleepover experience.

What to try: Night gallery tour, interactive sessions with researchers, concerts, film screenings, overnight stay

Address: No 510 West Beijing Road, Jing'an district

4. Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden

By day, the garden showcases its botanical richness. By night, it transforms into a living nature classroom.

Guided by science educators, visitors can observe plants and insects, search for fireflies, and watch birds return to their roosts, accompanied by the sounds of frogs and rustling leaves.

A ride on the garden's sightseeing train is also a favorite among younger visitors.

What to try: Night plant observation, insect spotting, firefly search, nature education programs

Address: No 3888 Chenhua Road, Songjiang district

5. Fuxing Park

A new attraction is adding to the nighttime charm of Fuxing Park this summer.

A limited-run sightseeing train now glides through the park and connects INS Land with the Sinan Mansions area, offering visitors a relaxing way to explore the neighborhood after dark.

Currently in trial operation, the train runs free of charge every Thursday through Sunday from 8 pm to midnight.

What to try: Illuminated park walk, free sightseeing train, evening urban walk

Address: No 105 Yandang Road, Huangpu district

*Except for the Fuxing Park activity, advance registration is required through the official websites or WeChat accounts of each venue. Please refer to the venues' latest announcements for full schedules and registration details.

Sources: Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism, venues mentioned above