Beijing Nightlife in Wudaokou

Clubbing and Hanging Out in the Wu

Apr 12, 2009 Bridget Coila

Wudaokou, often called simply "The Wu", is the student zone of Beijing. At the intersection of many of the China's major universities, including Peking University, Tsinghua University and BLCU (The Beijing Language and Culture University), the Wu has a thriving nightlife culture centered around students.

Many of the most popular venues are in the Huaqingjiayuan complex next to the Wudaokou subway station.

Where to Go Out in Wudaokou

Some of the best places to see and be seen at night in the Wu include:

• Lush – This western-style bar and restaurant in Huaqingjiayuan is a popular place to study during the day, but after dark is when Lush really shines. The bar hosts events almost every night, including a killer Pub Quiz trivia contest on Wednesdays, a Monday movie night, live music on Fridays and a Sunday open mike night where patrons can show off their singing skills or just belt out a happy birthday to their friend. Open 24 hours with late-night burger specials, Lush is also a frequent stop for drunken students winding down after a night of heavy clubbing.

• Propaganda – Easily recognized by the giant star on the sign out front and the line of Korean coeds in short skirts and tottering heels waiting outside Huaqingjiayuan to get into this popular dance club, Propaganda is the place students in the Wu go to get their dance on. Upstairs is Mexican joint La Bamba, where fajitas and pizza satisfy any hunger worked up on the dance floor.

• Pyro Pizza – Sharing an owner with Lush and a location just around the corner, Pyro also caters to the college crowd with events like Thursday night beer pong tournaments, theme parties and frequent impromptu Wednesday night parties when the post- Pubquiz crowd from Lush migrates over to Pyro for dancing and happy hour.

• D-22 – Widely regarded as the best live music venue for local acts, D-22 sits midway down Chengfu Lu about halfway between the subway station and "BeiDa." (Peking University.) With everything from punk to jazz to anything in-between, D-22 packs in the crowds almost every night.

• 13 Club – Another Chungfu Lu favorite, 13 Club is a small student-populated live music venue hosting local bands in a small, dive-like atmosphere. The music isn't generally as high-profile as the acts at D-22, but Club 13 is the place to see local acts before they get famous and move on to bigger, more expensive concert locations. Plus, 13 Club has Foosball, one of the only Beijing bars to hold that claim.

• BlaBla Bar – Hidden away on the BLCU campus, BlaBla bar makes up for its campus location with cheap beer and an outdoor patio in summer. This is where students trying to learn Chinese come to wind down.

With so many nightlife options minutes from campus, students never need to wander outside the Wu for their post-exam entertainment.