Opened in 2007, Mao Live House is one of Beijing's most popular mid-size performance spots for Chinese bands and touring alternative acts.

Mao Live House is stealthily tucked away within the single-story, old-style Beijing storefronts in the Gulou area, and has an unfinished, industrial sort of feel that stands in blissful opposition to Beijing’s hideous, nouveau-riche, neon-flashing, epilepsy-inducing dance clubs.

Despite its stark, concrete interior design, Mao Live House boasts a modern sound system of the highest quality – provided by one of the venue’s investors, Japan’s M.S.I. Speaker Company.

You’d never guess from the outside, but Mao Live House has a decent amount of standing room compared to some of Beijing’s other small live venues, such as Star, Yugong Yishan or D-22. The management claims 500 can cram into the all-standing venue – combining the dance floor, outlying walkways and the small raised loft – it’s almost believable.

The club seems to have decided to end performances quite early for Beijing (before 11pm). Partly, perhaps, to accommodate the student crowd who like to bus in from campus, but more likely not to incur the wrath of any of their elderly neighbors.

Open: 19:00 – late

Mobile Phone Number: 86 10 133 6612 1459

Website: www.maolive.com/

Address: 111 Gulou East Street, Dongcheng District

东城区鼓楼东大街111号