Since then, night schools have become increasingly popular in big cities, with many young urban residents choosing to join classes after work.

Weekend Charging is one of the first new night schools in Shanghai. Its founder, Kevin Wang, a 32-year-old finance industry worker in the city, has devoted all his free time to running the school for more than a year.

Over 1,000 young people are currently taking more than 20 different courses as members of the Weekend Charging community. A typical class in Shanghai or Beijing, which consists of six to 12 lessons, costs about 600 yuan.

As dining out in these cities often costs several hundred yuan, the school's classes are reasonably priced for young people.

Wang believes Weekend Charging's popularity is mainly due to a desire to "learn something else after work".

"Young people in big cities often focus too much on their careers, but lose track of their own lives, hobbies, and what's happening outside their fields of expertise. This can add to their mental problems, triggering a sense of anxiety and depression," he said.