Nightlife in Chengdu

Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province in Central-Western China is a metropolis that has the same comforts and activities one could expect to find in a modern international city. Nightlife is no exception, one can find a wide range of western bars, Chinese clubs, food, shopping, and sightseeing. Whether you want to have a cup of tea in the park, hit the clubs, try some fiery hotpot, or just drink a beer and watch the world go by, Chengdu has it.

Where to go?

In Chengdu, there are plenty of bars, clubs, restaurants, and teahouses. One of the best locations to find them is on Jiuyanqiao Bar Street (九眼桥酒吧街), around JiuYan Bridge, South-East of downtown along the 1^st ring road. You can also find quite a few on the long Fanglin Road, Renmin South Road, and West Yangshi Street.

Different bars with different flavors

1. The Beer Nest

The Beer Neest is a cozy little dive bar with craft beer. The beer list is extensive, and the bar has cocktails, wines, whiskeys, and food. With drinks ranging from 15 to 80 RMB you might be tempted to spend a lot, but there is a promotion every night of the week so you can save as well.

• Address: No. 34-7 Jinxiu Road, Wuhou District (down the road from the US consulate)
• Chinese Name: 啤酒窝酒吧
• Chinese Address: 武侯区锦绣路34号附7号 (棕北国际楼下)

2. The Beer Nest II

The Beer Nest II offers the same, but in a new location:

• Address: Renmin Nanlu 4th Section #48 Chinese Name: 啤酒窝餐吧
• Chinese Address: 人民南路四段48号附32号，首座万里商业街1楼 (宝马经销商后面)

3. Shamrock

For a more Irish/Western feel, Shamrock is the place to go. With 5 live satellite feeds for sports, a wide range of drinks (with Guinness, of course), western food like pizza, fish and chips, Shamrock has a lot to offer. Boasting weekly events like BBQ weekends, Ladies Nights, Mussels and White Wine Nights, and swing dancing, Shamrock caters to a wide audience and is a good place to bring friends or meet people.

• Address: No. 15 Renmin South Road, Section 4
• Chinese Name: 三叶草吧
• Chinese Address:  四川省成都市武侯区美领事馆美食区人民南路四段15号附16号

4. Revolucion Cocktail Chengdu

For more nightlife and less bar-life, Revolucion is the spot. With dance music, cocktails, and a Latin vibe, Revolucion offers something a little more energetic than most western dive bars. At an average price of 60 RMB per drink, you can expect delicious, unique cocktails and a fantastic atmosphere with entertaining barmanship.

• Address: No.1801-1804 1/F, Building 2, No.1 Shuijing Street
• Chinese Name: 革命酒吧
• Chinese Address:水井街1号2栋1层1801-1804号

5. Jellyfish Cocktail Bar and Club

If western dive bars aren’t for you, or you want to see what Chinese style Nightlife is like, then check out the Jelly Fish Cocktail Bar and Club. You will find the elements of nightlife that are the mainstays of most Chinese clubs: thumping music, Djs, all kinds of alcohol, and a busy dance floor.

• Address: 1 Shuijin Jie, Lan Kwai Fong, Chengdu, China
• Chinese Name: 水母 (兰桂坊)
• Chinese Address: 锦江区滨江东路水津街1号, 兰桂坊+1/F, 2-3, A

6. The Little Bar

For independent music and western bands traveling through Sichuan, The Little Bar is the place to go. From Indie rock to metal, The Little Bar has been at the center of Chengdu’s rock scene since its inception. Tickets range from 30 to 100 RMB and over depending on the artist, and the venue is small, so be prepared for a packed house if a popular band is playing. Rock on.

• Address: 87 Fangqin Street
• Chinese Name: 小酒馆
• Chinese Address: 成都市武侯区

Other Popular Activities

Sichuan Hotpot

Across China, one of the staple nightlife meals is hotpot (火锅, huoguo). Chengdu is not just the capital of Sichuan, but the capital of hotpot in China. All over the city there are late-night hotpot restaurants, open into the wee hours of the morning. The most famous hotpot places can be found in or around the city center, but it’s not hard to find good hot pot all over the city. Usually pork or beef and vegetables, hotpot is a balanced meal, but an adventurous eater can try brains, skin, and more.

Sichuan Opera

Maybe after Sichuan hotpot you might feel like you can spit fire, so why not see how it’s done? At the Sichuan opera you can see fire spitting, face changing, and acrobatics. Try the Shengfengya Yun Opera if you don’t know where to start.

• Address: Cutural Park, 132 Qintai Road, Qingyang District, Chengdu
• Chinese name: 蜀风雅韵
• Chinese address:四川省成都市青羊区草堂餐饮娱乐圈琴台路132号

Parks

For those who would rather experience the city on their feet, a visit to the parks of Chengdu is a must. Chinese cultural staples, like Tai-Chi practice or elderly dance troupes can always be found in public parks, and at night time, they get a lot busier. Families, young couples, dancers, and sometimes portable karaoke singers all share nightlife in the parks.

Teahouses

Chengdu’s park life is famous as well for its teahouses. In many of the parks throughout the city there are large teahouses, where locals come to relax and converse over a cup of tea. You can also have your ears massaged and cleaned- yes you read that right- or have a custom made toffee in the shape of your Chinese horoscope.

Related Tours