No city in China offers a greater contrast of the modern and the ancient than does Beijing. Not as steeped in history as Xi’an but not as hyper-western as Shanghai, Beijing exemplifies the synthesis of the Old and the New that is taking place all over the country.
New China is evident from the moment you step off your plane and into the ultra-modern and massive Beijing International Airport. McDonalds and Starbucks thrive in Beijing, offering western food with western prices. Talk with a young Beijinger and you’ll find that they are fully versed in many aspects of American culture, ranging from the NBA to Gossip Girls to Chris Brown and Rihanna. But the best and worst of New China can be seen in the city’s many modern clubs, mostly concentrated in and around the area of Santitun. Mercedes and BMWs fill their parking lots, their bars sell 45 kuai (around $7) Coronas, and their DJs play Lady Gaga, Akon, and other Billboard Top 40 hits at earsplitting volumes.
*Recommendations for experiencing the New China:
1. McDonalds, KFC, and Pizza Hut, delivered: if you really get tired or sick (literally) of the local food, these chains all offer 24 hour delivery in Beijing. The prices are about equivalent to what they are in the U.S., but the quality tends to be better because American fast-food chains are considered mid-tier restaurants in China.
2. Lush: a bar in Wudaokou and close to the Tsinghua campus, Lush is a good place to hang out with friends whenever you don’t feel like going to a real club. Very westernized and somewhat overpriced, but the location is convenient, and the atmosphere is chill.
3. Mix/Vics: located across from each other by the Worker’s Stadium in Sanlitun, Mix and Vics are high-end, western-style clubs. Both feature multiple packed dance floors, loud American music, and good nightly specials. Go to whichever place offers a better deal on the cover/drinks that night. Suggestion: pregame at the nearby Nanjie Bar for good, cheap drinks (if you’re over 18) before going clubbing.
Old China… to be continued (maybe).
