Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
KARAOKE
Karaoke is the number-one leisure pastime in China. There are well over 100,000 karaoke joints on the mainland,
ranging from giant chains where the prices are as high as some of the notes you'll hit to seedy operations that are
often fronts for prostitution. As alien as it can seem to be singing along to a TV in front of people, karaoke is one
of the best ways of getting to know the locals. And you'll be surprised at how quickly crooning cheesy pop stand-
ards becomes addictive.
NEED TO KNOW
Business Hours
Most bars in Běijīng open their doors in the late afternoon and close them at 2am. But many stay open longer,
especially on weekends, while others shut up shop around midnight. Cafes open much earlier and sometimes
close early, too. Clubs can go all night, depending on their mood.
Prices
The cost of drinking in Běijīng's bars depends very much on your personal tastes. If you want to gargle with a
Guinness, you'll pay more (¥40 to ¥50) than if you drink a bottle of Tsingtao (¥20 to ¥25). Mixed drinks start
at around ¥35 in most places, but in a swanky bar expect to pay Western prices, ¥60 and up, for a proper cock-
tail. Many bars, though, have happy hours (usually 5pm to 8pm) when you can imbibe more cheaply.
Drinking & Nightlife by Neighbourhood
»
Drum Tower & Dōngchéng North
Hútòng
bars and cafes aplenty, with Nan-
luogu Xiang especially drawing the crowds.
»
Běihǎi Park & Xīchéng North
The shores of the Hòuhǎi lakes are awash with
bars, although many are squarely aimed at the out-of-town domestic crowd.
»
Sānlǐtún & Cháoyáng
Clubbing central, especially around the west gate of the
Workers Stadium, and also home to upmarket cocktail bars.
