Nightlife was virtually unknown to many people in Beijing 20 years ago, and it wasn't a common topic of conversation. But nowadays it is very common, especially for young people, to go out in the evenings and spend their time at cinemas, theatres, nightclubs, song and dance halls, Karaoke clubs, restaurants or bars. Compared to most people in south of China, Beijing people are more conservative.
There are many great Beijing nightlife venues which have opened up in recent times where locals and tourists can party until the early hours of the morning. Below are some of the more popular Beijing evening entertainment venues so if you are a night person, head on out to some of the Beijing nightlife venues listed down below.
Sexy new club lounge for the hipster set that's already picked up quite a following. China dolls take their places on sleek sofas in the dimly-lit main space, while glam boys, hair gelled, watch over them from the bar. Staff pour some fine vodka cocktails with fruit mixes either delivered to your table or taken at the counter, but it's the music spun by name local and western DJs set to hi-tech visuals that are Velvet's real calling card. Expect house and trance on weekends, more chilled sets during the week.
The glowing nightclub chain that brought DJ breaks and cocktail beats to the People's Republic has just opened a Beijing branch. What took you so long baby? Situated at south of Worker's Stadium, the interior is all bright tiles, glowing neon, reflecting wall mirrors and sparkling ceiling beads.
Decked out in the siren red of an opium den, the similarity pretty much ends there. How many opium dens do you know that serve pizza? Still, this two-storey space is a decadent enough hang-out, the upstairs club packed with hot young things dancing to funky disco beats most nights, and flirting up a storm on weekends. Downstairs is quieter, with a cosy bar and a restaurant serving those pizzas as well as other European and Asian fare.
We're not sure whether Anna Wintour's ever graced this mega club on Workers Stadium Road (somehow we suspect having an address with those words in it precludes the possibility), but there's still no shortage of high style and sensuous fashion at Club Vogue. Name DJs line up to spin the latest in dance sounds and designer-clad locals and moneyed ex-pats fill the space to bursting on weekends. Pricey cocktails and imported beers keep them well-oiled and while the tourists among the crowd might not recognize them, it's a popular hangout for the local film, fashion and television elite.