"As one of the museums that is hardest to secure a ticket for during the summer vacation, the monthlong Night at the Museum not only helps meet the increasing public demand, but also provides a unique experience for visitors," Jin Miao, deputy director of the museum's public education department, says.

She adds that the evening events attract not only those who couldn't get tickets for the daytime opening, but also working parents who don't have time to bring their children during the day.

From 6 pm to 9 pm this month, the museum team will organize a series of activities, including lectures, movies, sleepovers, as well as the staging of an original play titled I Am Red Peter.

As well as hosting such activities, according to Jin, the Night at the Museum evenings create opportunities for researchers to interact face-to-face with the public without interrupting their busy daytime schedules. To enable more people to get involved, lectures will be livestreamed online.