Beijing Entertainment and Nightlife

Beijing has not only a rich cultural atmosphere, but also a variety of entertainment activities. Beijing Entertainment and Nightlife goes well beyond daytime activity. You can enjoy the charming night of Beijing while drinking at Houhai bars. You can also taste the tea and listen to the traditional opera leisurely in the teahouses around Tianqiao area, or go to Shichahai for skating, go to Diaoyutai to see the fallen leaves, go to Beihai park for boating and eat sugar-coated haw while visiting the temple fair, to experience the most authentic Beijing flavor.

Night Markets and Bars in Beijing

Night markets and bars are the typical representatives of nightlife. Every city has its own nightlife. In Beijing, in addition to drinking at bars, you can also go to some bars to see live bands performance at night.

Night Markets

Beijing night market and snack street are the best places for tourists to taste local delicious snacks. Popular night markets in Beijing include Wangfujing snack street, Guijie/Ghost street, Shichahai snack street, Niu Jie snack street, Qianmen food street, Xiaoyun road, Pingan avenue, South Luogu Lane night market, Fucheng road(阜成路), etc. 

Bars

In this modern city of Beijing, numerous large and small bars are distributed all over the capital. When the night comes, these bright neon lights and the fierce or lyrical songs coming from the bars are all calling people who love bar culture. Sanlitun is the original bar street in Beijing. Because it is adjacent to the largest embassy area in Beijing, foreigners have become regular guests in sanlitun. In recent years, the local white-collar, show business relate person, and even tourists from other parts of the country have become regular guests here. Shichahai is the general name of the back three seas in Beijing’s water system “six seas”, and also a big bar gathering place in Beijing.

Shichahai Bar Street

Shichahai bar street is the most artistic bar gathering place in Beijing, mainly distributed in lotus market, Qianhai area, Yindian bridge and Houhai area. Compared with other places like Worker’s Stadium and Sanlitun, the bars here are more artistic, with many stars singing here before they became famous. If you don’t go to a bar, just come to the evening shopping is a good choice as well. At night, standing on the Yindian bridge(银淀桥), the night view is quite good.
Transportation: Take No.60, 82, 90, 107, 124 or 204 bus and get off at Di’anmen Outer Stop; Take No.13, 42, 90, 107, 111, 118, 204, 609, 612, 623 or 701 bus and get off at Beihai North Gate Stop; Take No.5, 111, 124, 210 or 609 bus and get off at Di’anmen Inner Stop; or take subway line 6 to Beihai North Gate Station. 
Nearby Attractions: Prince Gong’s Mansion, Shichahai, Beihai Park, South Luogu Lane, Jingshan Park, the Palace Museum, Yonghe Lamasery. 

  • Lie Huo Qi Lin(烈火麒麟)
    Add: No.1, Yindianqiao Hutong, Xicheng District, Beijing City北京市西城区银锭桥胡同1号
    Tel: 010-83280599/010-86078529/18519865584
  • October Pub(十月酒馆)
    Add: No.1, Houhai South Shore, Xicheng District, Beijing City北京市西城区后海南沿1号
    Tel: 18010022716
  • Jianghu Bar(江湖酒吧)
    Add: No.17, Qianhai North Shore, Xicheng District, Beijing City北京市西城区前海北沿17号
  • ZONE
    Add: No.12(A), Houhai West Shore, Xicheng District, Beijing City北京市西城区后海西沿甲12号
    Tel: 010-84031419
  • Meet(见面)
    Address: No.1(D), Houhai South Shore, Xicheng District, Beijing City北京市西城区后海南沿丁1号
    Tel: 18611843160

Sanlitun Bar Street

Sanlitun bar street, located on the east side of Sanlitun north road, Chaoyang district, Beijing, east of workers’ stadium, is a bar street famous for its numerous bars and characteristics. The first bar was established in 1983. Sanlitun is the favorite nightlife spot for fashionable men and women. Because of its proximity to the embassy area, it attracts many foreigners to relax and become regular guests.
Transportation: Take No.113, 115, 406, 416, 431, 701 or 758 bus and get off at Sanlitun stop; or take subway line 10 to Tuanjiehu station. 
Nearby Attractions: Sanlitun Taikoo Li, Worker’s Stadium, The Place, CCTV Headquarters Building, Blue Harbour, Chaoyang Park, Guijie Street. 

  • Hidden House
    Add: The 1st Floor of No.39 Building, South of Sanlitun, Chaoyang District, Beijing City北京市朝阳区三里屯南39号楼1层
    Tel: 010-84185718/13466655804
  • la social
    Address: No.81, Sanlitun Bar Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing City北京市朝阳区三里屯酒吧街81号
    Tel: 010-52086030
  • Moolight Bar(月色酒吧)
    Add: No.8, Sanlitun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing City北京市朝阳区三里屯路8号
    Tel: 010-64161633

Other Recommended Bars

  • MAO LIVE HOUSE
    Add: No.69, Fuxing Road, Haidian District, Beijing City北京市海淀区复兴路69号
    Tel: 010-68156770
  • D.Lounge
    Add: No.4, Worker’s Stadium North Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing City北京市朝阳区工体北路4号
    Tel: 010-65937710
  • Ginger Bar & Lounge
    Add: 110 Room, the 1st Floor of No.10 Building, Xindong Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing City北京市朝阳区新东路10号楼1层110室
    Tel: 010-84425218
  • TERRI PUB
    Add: No.6 Building of Meilin Building, Chaoyang District, Beijing City北京市朝阳区美林大厦6号楼
    Tel: 13683109152/13910918656
  • Ala House
    Add: No.6, Chaoyangmen Outer Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing City北京市朝阳区朝阳门外大街6号
    Tel: 010-65336661
  • Vplus Lounge
    Add: No.2(C), Worker’s Stadium East Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing City北京市朝阳区工人体育场东路丙2号
    Tel: 010-85871233
  • PeKinG Bar
    Add: Xindong Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing City北京市朝阳区新东路
    Tel: 13121696980

Show and Performance in Beijing

Teahouse, Cross Talk and Traditional Opera

There are many teahouses in old Beijing, but nowadays there are only one or two famous ones. Tasting tea is no longer the main purpose, listening to storytelling and crosstalk has become more popular content. Beijing’s Quyi cultural life is colorful. Beijing Opera, as the quintessence of Chinese culture, is deeply loved by ordinary people in Beijing. When you listen to an opera in a lively teahouse, you can feel the charm of Beijing Opera up close, and you can better appreciate the extensive and profound Chinese culture. In addition, you can also listen to Hebei Bangzi, Pingxi and other traditional Beijing folk art. Beijing also has the popular Chinese De Yun She, where drinking tea and listening to comic dialogue are good choices for relaxation.

Laoshe Tea House

Places to explore Chinese folk culture include Laoshe Teahouse, where you can experience China’s famous tea culture, find a quiet place to relax and maybe do some reading. Laoshe Teahouse is named after Mr. Lao She. It was built in 1988. You can enjoy the wonderful performances of Quyi, drama celebrities, and in the meantime, taste famous tea, palace dim sum and seasonal Beijing flavor snacks. Since its opening, Laoshe Teahouse has received many Chinese and foreign celebrities, enjoying a high reputation.

 Recommended Teahouses

  • Laoshe Tea House(老舍茶馆)
    Add: No.3 Building, Zhengyang Market, Qianmen West Street, Xicheng District, Beijing City北京市西城区前门西大街正阳市场3号楼
    Tel: 010-63036830
  • Laoshe Tea House(老舍茶馆)
    Add: No.312, Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing City北京市朝阳区大屯路312号
    Tel: 010-84874186
  • De Yun She Tianqiao Theater(德云社天桥剧场)
    Add: A1, Beiwei Road, Xicheng District, Beijing City北京市西城区北纬路甲1号
  • Sanlitun Theater of Deyunshe(德云社三里屯剧场)
    Add: Sanlitun SOHO Shopping Mall, Chaoyang District, Beijing City北京市朝阳区三里屯SOHO商场
    Tel: 010-58407676/13121501234
  • Zhangyiyuan Teahouse(张一元茶馆)
    Add: No.18, Wanming Road, Xicheng District, Beijing City北京市西城区万明路18号
    Tel: 010-83161113
  • Youpin Tea House(幽品茶楼)
    Add: No.3 Building, Tuanjiehu North Mouth, Chaoyang District, Beijing City北京市朝阳区团结湖北口3号楼
    Tel: 010-65822280

Theatre Performance

Theatre culture is another culture extension in Beijing, there are grand theatres with a capacity of more than 5000 people which often stages large plays, the living theaters that students in the Central Academy Of Drama and Beijing Film Academy perform, and small theaters that can hold only a few dozens of people. The large number of performances and inexpensive prices offer theater and stage theater lovers a wide variety of choices to watch. 

Recommended Theaters

  • National Grand Theater
    Add: No.2, West Chang’an Street, Xicheng District, Beijing City北京市西城区西长安街2号
    Tel: 010-66550000/010-66064705/010-51297260
  • Kaixin Mahua Theater开心麻花剧场
    Add: No.30, Yangrou Hutong, Xicheng District, Beijing City北京市西城区羊肉胡同30号
    Tel: 010-66167994
  • The Capital Theater
    Add: No.22, Wangfujing Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing City北京市东城区王府井大街22号
    Tel: 010-85116622/010-65246666/010-65250123
  • Poly Theatre
    Add: The 1st Floor of Baoli Building, No.14, Dongzhimen South Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing City北京市东城区东直门南大街14号保利大厦1层
    Tel: 010-65001188/010-51650002
  • Century Theater
    Add: No.40, Liangmaqiao Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing City北京市朝阳区亮马桥路40号
    Tel: 010-64628470/010-64660032
  • Theatre of the Beijing Exhibition Centre
    Add: No.135, Xizhimen Outer Street, Xicheng District, Beijing City北京市西城区西直门外大街135号
    Tel: 010-68351592
  • Haidian Theater
    Add: No.28, Zhongguancun Street, Haidian District, Beijing City北京市海淀区中关村大街28号
    Tel: 010-82533588/010-62558026
  • PLA Theater
    Add: No.60, Deshengmen West Street, Xicheng District, Beijing City北京市西城区德胜门西大街60号
    Tel: 010-84447266
  • National Theatre of China
    Add: No.277, Guang’anmen Outer Street, Xicheng District, Beijing City北京市西城区广安门外大街277号
    Tel: 010-83069696
  • Mei Lanfang Grand Theatre
    Add: No.32, Ping’anli West Street, Xicheng District, Beijing City北京市西城区平安里西大街32号
    Tel: 010-58331288/010-58331388

Amusement Parks in Beijing

There are many interesting places in Beijing, but in the face of the hustle and bustle of the metropolis, putting aside all troubles and playing joyfully in the amusement park may be a good choice. At present, the biggest amusement parks in Beijing are Happy Valley and Shijingshan Amusement Park in Beijing. Happy valley is composed of six thematic areas, there are more than 120 experience items, and Shijingshan amusement park is also very popular with the Beijing native, is the memory of a generation. In addition, the water cube and other water parks are good places to escape the heat as well.  

  • Happy Valley
    Add: Xiaowuji North Road, East 4th Ring, Chaoyang District, Beijing City北京市朝阳区东四环小武基北路
    Tel: 010-67383333/010-67389898
  • Shijingshan Amusement Park
    Add: No.25, Shijingshan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing City北京市石景山区石景山路25号
    Tel: 010-68876016/010-88925159
  • Beijing Zoo
    Address: No.137, Xizhimen Outer Street, Xicheng District, Beijing City北京市西城区西直门外大街137号
    Tel: 010-68314411/010-68390274/12301

Coffee Shops in Beijing

Beijing is a city of great cultural integration, featuring both authentic old Beijing culture and petty bourgeois sentiment. Beijing has a variety of different types of cafes, like themed cafe, leisure cafe, diet bar and so on, scattered in the streets and alleys of Beijing. Among them, Sanlitun, Nanluoguxiang(South Luogu Lane) and other areas with strong literary and artistic feelings gather many cafes with emotional appeal and delicious food.

  • Friends’ Cafe(老友记主题店)
    Add: No.6(B), Chaoyangmen Outer Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing City北京市朝阳区朝阳门外大街乙6号
    Tel: 18010484636 010-64070336
  • 1901 Cafe
    Add: No.101, Xi’anmen Street, Xicheng District, Beijing City北京市西城区西安门大街101号
    Tel: 010-66160335
  • MAAN COFFEE(漫咖啡)
    Add: No.88, Wangfujing Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing City北京市东城区王府井大街88号
    Tel: 010-59785848
  • June Graden Cafe(六月花园咖啡馆)
    Add: No.16, Zhongguancun East Road, Haidian District, Beijing City北京市海淀区中关村东路16号
    Tel: 010-62423421
  • Wobbit Coffee(窝边草咖啡)
    Add: No.11, Futong West Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing City北京市朝阳区阜通西大街11号
    Tel: 010-57389218
  • Esquires Coffee
    Add: No.1, East Chang’an Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing City北京市东城区东长安街1号
    Tel: 010-85151289/010-85221489
  • Caffe bene(咖啡陪你)
    Address: No.11(A), Dongsi South Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing City北京市东城区东四南大街甲11号
    Tel: 010-85110620

Visiting Temple Fairs during Spring Festival

Visiting temple fairs in Beijing during the Spring Festival is one of the most popular activities for both new visitors and local residents. The so-called temple fair, also known as the assembly, temple and festival field, contains a lot of content, such as incense burning praying, dragon and lion dance, tasting snacks, watching the lantern market. In the major temple fairs in Beijing, walk around parks with family members, chat and exchange feelings; Walk and see with friends while eating snacks, feel Beijing folk culture and food culture; Or bring a camera to capture the cultural landscape and festive atmosphere of Beijing at this specific period.