In comparison to Shanghai and Hong Kong, Beijing's nightlife is not so bustling, but still owns its unique flavor. Almost every four-or five-star hotel in Beijing has facilities for entertainment. However, nightlife venues are mostly in the city center. In recent years, the city has witnessed a mushrooming of foreign theme pubs, new exotic bars and locally run clubs. Foreign pubs, bars, cafes and disco clubs attract foreign residents and tourists as well as young Chinese. Nightclubs in Beijing usually open from 8 or 9 pm to midnight or 2-3 am. You will not feel lonely no matter where you are from!

 

The most popular bar areas are Sanlitun, also known as "Bar Street." Chaoyang Park, Houhai, Wudaokou, Worker's Stadium, Nurenjie ( Ladies's Street ), the Yuan Dynasty Wall Bar Street etc.

 

Have a drink while watching performance in a bar or nightclub in Beijing helps you know more about the place where the West meet the East.

 

You can also savor the flavor of authentic Beijing nightlife by seeing entertainments with Chinese characteristics like Peking Opera, Chinese acrobatics, dramas, local ballad singing, song and dance performances etc.

Peking Opera
Peking Opera is regarded as the national opera of China, whose accompanying music, singing and costumes are fascinating and full of Chinese cultural facts, presenting the audience an encyclopedia. It is necessary to see Peking Opera while you are in China, just as seeing an opera while in Italy. While go to see the Opera, you don't need to dress up for it, casual or smart casual would be fine.

 

Beijing Teahouse
As the pub or cafe in the west as integral to social interaction, the teahouse has been a meeting place for local residents, artists, philosophers and the melting pot of ideas, debates and revelations. Analogous to dinner theater in the west, an evening spent at a teahouse will include food, drink around sampling from the Chinese stage often comprising Peking Opera, acrobatics, crosstalk, animal imitations and other forms of drama.

 

Peking Acrobatics Show
Chinese acrobatics are spectacular, with an uninterrupted history of over 2000 years, thus, enjoying the Peking Acrobatic show in the evening is really fantastic. Chaoyang Theatre is a good choice for the fantastic experience since the Chaoyang Theatre often features visiting troops and top artists from all over China.

 

Beijing Kung Fu Show
The magnificent wushu is the crystallization of human wisdom. In the boundless world of great wushu, the Shaolin kungfu, as a glittering pearl of wushu has been bright with radiating rays. Its broad and profound connotation, its mysterious and subtle skills command respect among heroes all over the world. Popular theater to see the Kung Fu Show is the Red Theater in Chongwen district.

 

Two places recommended for you to enjoy the evening entertainments are Laoshe Tea House and Baoli Theater.

 

Laoshe Tea House
Laoshe Tea House was named after the famous play "Teahouse" by Laoshe, a Chinese playwright and author of humorous, satirc novels and short stories. Laoshe Tea House is a traditional entertainment place in Beijing, which provides the local dish. The evening show (7:30pm to 8:30pm) includes Beijing Opera, and local snack is available. Acrobatic show, gramary and some local art of China can also be seen there.

Baoli Theater
Baoli Theater is favorably located in central Beijing. The theater has already successfully staged 3,000 performances of various kinds by over 300 artistic troupes since it opened in 1991. Baoli Theater is widely recognized as the most luxurious theater in Beijing. Both the audio and lighting systems have adopted the world's top facilities, enabling the theater to meet the various needs of different artistic companies. Renowned artistic companies from the Arena di Verona in Italy, China Philharmonic Orchestra, China Central Symphony Orchestra, China Central Opera Theater, China Central Ballet, etc, have brought operas like Massenet's Werther, Veridi's La Traviata, Tosca and Nabbuco, and ballets such as Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, The Nutcracker (Chinese version) and Raise the Red Lantern to the Baoli Theater. World-famous conductors like Christopher Penderecki, Vladimir Ashkenazy, pianists Martha Argerich, Fu Cong,Li Yundi, etc. have all performed at the Baoli Theater.