Nightlife In Beijing| 5 min read

Compared to foreigners, Chinese people are more conservative. Most of them, relatively early married people in particular, like to stay at home, watching TV or chatting with friends. But when it comes to the youngest Chinese generation, they enjoy going out more in a Western-style and are becoming more and more open and confident to interact with foreigners. This also coincides with the fact that Chinese are fascinated by Western culture and vice-versa. Party districts, pubs, bars, cafes and disco clubs attract foreign residents, tourists as well as young locals.

Karaoke is one of the most popular ways to spend social time amongst the Chinese. There are karaoke houses, or more commonly known as “KTVs” all over China, some of which rival the looks and feel of a huge movie theatre in the West. You will get a private, insulated room that has distorting speakers, two microphones, a television, a large central table, and couches lining the walls. The Chinese are not shy about singing and will insist that you sing. If you do not want to sing, you can say, “Wo bu hui chang ge” (I cannot sing). Chinese karaoke rooms are multi-purpose. Someone can be singing while four other people are slamming down dice on the table, playing drinking games, or having a buffet dinner which is included in the price.

Beijing’s nightlife has really taken off in the last few years. New bars and clubs are opening up every month with some serious music venues attracting the world’s finest artists. Most clubs are concentrated in the downtown area (Sanlitun, Workers’ Stadium, Houhai, Nanluoguxiang, Chaoyang Park West Gate etc) but you will find a few in the Wudaokou student area. Downtown clubs are naturally more expensive but they have a slicker atmosphere. The city has a burgeoning nightclub scene that caters to all tastes. Electronic, techno, hip-hop, South American sounds, live music etc can all be found in Beijing. The most frequented areas include:

• Sanlitun: Without any exaggeration, “Sanlitun” is among the first 15 words newcomers to Beijing will learn to say in Chinese upon their arrival. Sanlitun is probably the best known and most popular entertainment zone in the embassy area of the Chinese capital. Sanlitun used to only comprise a few small streets of bars. Now, it has developed into a large entertainment district incorporating approximately 60 clubs and bars and over 100 restaurants, a fundamental component of Beijing nightlife.
• HouHai: A lake area with a variety of teahouses, cafes, bars, restaurants that combine modern and traditional elements in their unique designs in the centre of the traditional hutong area of central Beijing. HouHai is popular all day with small shops in hidden alleys and lots of rickshaws passing by. In the evening, trendy lighting and neon mixes with traditional red lanterns to create a lively yet relaxing atmosphere. Nanluoguxiang which is one of the best preserved areas in Downtown Beijing, a perfect blend of past and present. In an old-Beijing-style hutong, you’ll see refurbished, traditional dwellings and get a taste of what old Beijing might have looked like. Small stores, restaurants, bars and even a few hotels line the street, but they do their best not to spoil the atmosphere.
• Wudaokou: A neighbourhood in the Haidan district in North West Beijing, approximately 10 km from the city centre between the fourth and fifth ring roads. The area is extremely popular with students, especially international which is reflected by the high number of bars and clubs.

The glittering glam of some high price bars and clubs, to the downright shack style of the Hu Tong bars, China has it all when the sun goes down. Depending on the area you plan to party in at night dictates the type of people you meet and the costs of drinks you’ll pay for in China; The Expatriate areas in larger cities in China host many business people relaxing after a long days work, with the right price and the right style of music, the less crowded and more expensive clubs and bars is a good way to chill out and relax.

However if dancing is your thing and you are looking for a bargain for drinks, the local HuTong areas are usually full of younger students traveling or studying within China, and locals who want to make some new foreign friends. The bars and clubs are full of culture and history, usually the Hu Tong areas are not the prettiest places this therefore means the prices are just right. Cheap drinks and snacks mean a good fun night out.

Finally if drinking and dancing is not your thing, again there are things for you. Shops generally close later at night (Aprox 9pm) and to cater for the late night shoppers, restaurants and cafes are also opened till these hours with a wide range of western and local foods and snacks to tantalize any taste bud out there. But what is a good meal and some shopping without some entertainment coming to you. Movie cinemas, Karaoke, bowling, ice skating and more lie out there for you to explore depending on what you feel like doing; it is just a matter of deciding, what do We feel like tonight?