Shichahai Bar Street is a gathering place for bars with a strong artistic atmosphere in Beijing. Bars can be found either by the gracefully shaded Shichahai or within the traditional Hutong courtyards of old Beijing. Compared to other bar streets like Gongti and Sanlitun, the bars here are quieter, with many bars featuring live singers who perform very well.
Most of the bars along the lake near Shichahai are distributed in three main areas: the Lotus Market and Qianhai section, near the Yindu Bridge, and the Houhai section. The bars are mostly built in ancient styles, and the lakeside environment is very elegant. Some bars even set up tables and chairs along the road by the lake, making it very pleasant to drink and chat outdoors on summer nights. However, due to the recent popularity, the proliferation of bars has led to a mixed quality of service and variety. Aggressive solicitation and vulgar performances on the streets have become common, which can be disappointing, so it’s important to choose a suitable bar to visit. Among them, bars like Huomu Bar, Jiating Fang, and Tianyudi are popular for their band performances and are worth trying. Compared to the proliferation and noise of the lakeside bars, the bars in the Hutongs near Shichahai are more quality-oriented. In several Hutongs to the west of Shichahai, there are many distinctive bars with unique characteristics. Most of these bars are located within traditional courtyards. Although they lack the lakeside view, they offer a quiet and elegant environment with their own themes and features. Some have very comfortable settings, some are very chic, and some have excellent live bands and singers. Many of the folk musicians who have become popular in recent years have performed here. If you don’t go to a bar, just strolling around the streets at night is also a good choice. Standing on the Yindu Bridge at night, with the gently swaying tree shadows on both sides of the lake and the bright lights and lively atmosphere on the shore, it forms a beautiful urban night scene, making it suitable for photography.
