Related stories

Circular on Approval of Short-term Foreign Debt Quotas for Foreign-invested Banks in China in 2005 From Children in Beijing t o Children in Sichuan HSBC Receives Approval for Joint Venture Fund Management Company in China Warming Up for A Healther Life Global Financial Crisis, What's in It for You

Trend for Theme Bars Revs Up in Haidian

Beijing's bar culture continues to mature, with theme bars being the hot new trend, reports Beijing Evening News. And the more original the theme, the larger the number of customers, it seems, with some bars far outstripping competitors.

Among the latest to make a big impact is the Motor Bar in Haidian District. Its young owner, a motor-cycling enthusiast, has made the machine his theme, the result being fellow 'bike fans who regard the tiny bar virtually as their clubhouse. The bar is particularly busy around 10pm each day, when customers both talk about the latest in motor-cycles and go through foreign motor-cycle magazines such as Easy Rider. Often they seize on a topic from a magazine, for example an article about preventing frostbite whilst riding, and discuss it at length. These discussions are, naturally, always over drinks, though customers are reminded not to drink overmuch if they are riding home.

Other bars' themes include art, soccer, movies and folklore. The theme trend among western-style bars was started many years ago by the Big Easy at Chaoyang Park. Of late, it has been followed by Sgt. Pepper's, also near the park, whose adoption of Beatles music and a nightly live band has proved very successful.