Soaring temperatures in eastern China have prompted Hefei Wildlife Park in Anhui province to extend its hours, offering nighttime visits for the first time. - Photo: AFP
HEFEI, (China): Soaring temperatures in eastern China have prompted Hefei Wildlife Park in Anhui province to extend its hours, offering nighttime visits for the first time.
The zoo opened its gates to evening crowds on Aug 1 in a bid to provide visitors relief from the scorching daytime heat and offer them a unique opportunity to observe nocturnal animals.
The move has proved popular, with thousands flocking to the park in the first week of the night hours.
As at Tuesday (Aug 6) night, the opening had attracted about 4,000 paying visitors, according to the zoo.
The park has reduced its ticket prices for the evening visits, with adult tickets costing 29.9 yuan (S$5.50), down from 35 yuan during the day.
Other zoos in Shanghai and the provinces of Jiangsu and Shandong have also adopted extended hours to accommodate visitors seeking respite from the heat.
The Shanghai Wildlife Zoo, which began nighttime tours on June 1, has opened some areas for vehicle entry, allowing visitors to observe animals from their cars.
The nighttime tours will continue until Oct 7.
“Many animals primarily rest during the daytime in summer, but with slightly cooler temperatures at night, they tend to be more active,” said Wang Huihui, a staff member at Hefei Wildlife Park.
Addressing concerns about the impact of nighttime openings on the animals, she added that the zoo has carefully selected animals that are more active at night for display and has taken measures such as dim lighting to minimise disturbances to the animals.
“For animals not suitable for nighttime display, their living areas will be closed off,” Wang said.
The nighttime tours will continue for a month, with opening hours from 5.30pm to 9.30pm daily.
The cooler evening breeze provides an opportunity for visitors to observe more active animals such as red pandas, kangaroos and hippos, Wang said.
A visitor surnamed Zhao said: "My son begged me for days to bring him to the zoo, but I don’t think we can bear the daytime heat wave.
"I knew from last summer’s visit that most of the animals prefer to remain in air-conditioned rooms, so the night tour is a very good arrangement."
In addition to animal displays, the zoo has partnered with a professional team from the Anhui Provincial Drama Theatre to present two stage plays every night after 7.30pm.
Visitors have shared their experiences on social media, praising the stage shows performed exclusively for the night tours.
However, they recommend bringing a fan, as the nighttime temperatures, while more bearable, can still be high.
On July 31, the Hefei Meteorological Observatory issued an orange alert for high temperatures, the second-highest level in a four-colour warning system, with daily maximum temperatures exceeding 37 deg C.
The alert remained in effect as at Aug 8.
Hefei is among several Chinese cities experiencing record-breaking temperatures this summer, with authorities issuing heat alerts. - China Daily/ANN
