In Chaoyang district, there is a nightlife area where restaurants, bars and clubs are clustered together into three major places for entertainment. Where is its accurate location? It is beside the Third Ring Road.

The first is Gongti West Road. The strip along Gongti West Road attracts the local nouveau riches whose drink of choice is the inexplicable green tea and Chivas – for evidence of the fat wallets in town check out the BMW’s and Mercedes in the car park. Gongti itself boasts four or five thumping clubs inside its walls.

The second isSanlitun. Just to the east is the slightly scruffier bar district. In 1996 there was only one bar here, but in true Beijing style it was not long before copycat venues emerged, hoping to cash in on the obvious success. Despite threats to close it down, Sanlitun has survived and flourished. There are a couple of smaller funky clubs, but the main drag is a line of copycat bars, popular with less affluent locals.

Further east again, is the West Gate ofChaoyang Park. Outside of the outrageously ostentatious Block and entertainment complex, there are some hip and less pricey dance joints which attract a young mixed crowd of locals and expatriates. So, foreign travelers can visit there as well.

If you really enjoy nightlife and lodge near such hubs, you might as well visit them and experience the unique nightlife of Beijing. It is wonderful!