Young workers head to classes after the sun sets

Public relations worker Wendy Wu joined a makeup class with 15 other young people at a studio in Chaoyang district, Beijing, in January.

The first session focused on teaching the group how to apply a proper base layer of makeup, with the teacher explaining the method while the students practiced it.

It was the first time that Wu had taken part in a night school course.

"I got the idea to learn makeup six months ago, but was too busy to start until last month. After I found the information to enroll for the night school near to where I live, I signed up for the course right away," she said.

She said the course, which cost 500 yuan ($70) for five sessions, each lasting two hours, was an affordable and enjoyable experience.

"Joining the night school is cheaper than enrolling at commercial training institutions. Although the number of classes is limited, the school provides an opportunity to gain experience and learn basic knowledge," Wu said.

Night schools have recently become a new trend, attracting eager learners such as Wu, who work during the day and acquire new skills in the evening.

Yang Zhaodi, founder of the school Wu joined, said that since she posted a recruitment message on the Xiaohongshu lifestyle-focused social media platform in November, more than 5,000 people have expressed an interest in joining classes. The school is named Dawanpianyi, which translates as "high quality with low price".

The classes cover a range of artistic and cultural pursuits, including dancing, vocal training, traditional handicrafts, beauty, fitness lessons, wine tasting, filming vlogs, and making coffee. Some of them are highly sought after.

China's latest night school trend began in Shanghai in September, when enrollment for the Citizen Night School for Arts attracted 650,000 applicants competing for 10,000 places, which caused the enrollment platform to crash.