Nightlife · Beijing · China
Beijing nightlife
Where the evenings happen in Beijing, from early drinks to late nights.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Beijing nightlife ranges from lakeside bars at Houhai and live-music venues in the Gulou hutongs to the cocktail lounges and clubs of Sanlitun and the Workers' Stadium area. The main areas are Sanlitun, Gulou, Houhai and Wudaokou.
Key facts
- Nightlife areas
- 4
- Stay near the action
- Shichahai and Houhai
- Local drink
- Fermented bean drink
Where to go out
Sanlitun
The city's main nightlife district, with cocktail bars, craft beer and clubs around Taikoo Li and the Workers' Stadium.
Gulou
Small bars, live-music venues and craft-beer spots tucked into the hutongs near the Drum Tower.
Houhai
Lakeside bars with live cover bands; touristy but atmospheric on summer nights.
Wudaokou
Cheap bars and late-night barbecue for the student crowd in Haidian.
Nightlife tips
- The subway stops around 11pm; use DiDi or a licensed taxi home.
- Ignore touts who lead visitors to Houhai bars with inflated drink prices; check prices before ordering.
- Bring your passport or a copy to some clubs, which check identity at the door.
Evening sights
Waterfront · Shichahai and Houhai
Shichahai lakes and hutongs
Agree the price and route of any rickshaw tour in writing before you set off, or simply walk the lanes yourself.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- After dark
- Outdoors
- Couples
- Photo spot
Architecture · Chaoyang
Olympic Green
Come at dusk to see the stadium and aquatics centre illuminated from the plaza at no cost.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Architecture
- After dark
- Free
- Kids
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Experience · Qianmen and Dashilar
Peking opera performance
Arrive early to watch the performers apply their make-up, which some theatres allow before the show.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- After dark
- Rainy day
- Art
- Couples
What to drink
- Fermented bean drink — A grey, sour drink of fermented mung bean starch water, famously divisive, traditionally sipped hot with crisp jiaoquan fried rings and pickles.
- Erguotou — Beijing's local baijiu, a clear, very strong grain spirit distilled from sorghum. It is cheap, potent and part of every old-style dinner.
Evenings through the year
Sunset and the overnight low decide how long the outdoor part of a night lasts. July has the warmest evenings, with lows around 22°C (72°F).
| Month | Sunset (15th) | Overnight low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | About 17:13 | -8°C (18°F) | 2 |
| April | About 18:52 | 8°C (46°F) | 5 |
| July | About 19:42 | 22°C (72°F) | 13 |
| October | About 17:35 | 8°C (46°F) | 5 |
Getting home late
- Metro — Allow time for the bag security check at every station entrance.
- Taxi — Avoid unlicensed drivers touting at stations and outside the Forbidden City.
- Bus — City buses are cheap and cover the whole city, including tourist lines to the Badaling Great Wall, but routes are mostly signed in Chinese.
Late-night bites
- Lamb skewers — Barbecue restaurants and night stalls, particularly in Gulou and Wudaokou.
- Candied hawthorn — Street sellers around hutong lanes, temple fairs and snack streets in winter.
- Beijing yoghurt — Convenience stores, corner shops and hutong snack stalls.
Staying safe at night
Beijing is generally safe for visitors, but tea-ceremony and art-student scams target tourists around Wangfujing and Tiananmen, and unlicensed taxis tout at stations. Expect identity and bag checks at major sites, and carry your passport.
- Emergency number
- 110 police, 120 ambulance, 119 fire
Where to stay for nightlife
$$$ · Best for couples, nightlife and culture
Shichahai and Houhai
Qianhai, Houhai and Xihai lakes form Shichahai, edged by hutongs, Prince Gong Mansion and bars that light up at night. In winter the lakes freeze for skating. Courtyard hotels here are atmospheric, and the Drum and Bell Towers and Beihai Park are within a short walk.
- Good
- Lakeside walks and courtyard hotels; Evening bars; Close to the Forbidden City's north side
- Watch out
- Bar touts and loud music around Houhai at night; Few subway stations right at the lakes
- Nearby
- Prince Gong Mansion, Drum Tower, Beihai Park, Yandai Xiejie
Questions travellers ask
+Where is the best nightlife in Beijing?
Sanlitun, Gulou and Houhai. The city's main nightlife district, with cocktail bars, craft beer and clubs around Taikoo Li and the Workers' Stadium.
+Which area of Beijing is best for nightlife?
Shichahai and Houhai: Three linked lakes, willow-lined banks and lakeside bars.