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Nightlife

1. The Most Neglected Club of the Year: Arena 

In the bowels of The Place, on its B1 Level, off Guanghua Lu, the 900-square-metre Arena Club has everything a clubber asks for: one of the town’s largest dance floors stretching out like a T-stage, the funky house beats of resident DJ Edmund trying to convert the masses and deliver a totally fresh dance experience in Beijing, and the all-you-can-drink on-house pour and beer for 99 yuan every day of the week. Still the club is easily forgotten in a year when masses of clubs emerged in the city. Perhaps Beijing clubbers cannot accept a club located under a shopping mall.

2. The Most Upper-Class Club of the Year: CJW

As its third branch in China, CJW restaurant and jazz lounge in Beijing was built in line with the same concept as CJW Shanghai: high class restaurant + jazz lounge + cigar shop. Types and brands of cigars from almost everywhere in the world, unique cigar cutters, cigar humidors, cigar gloves, cigar lighters and many other cigar accessories are provided in the cigar bar; a live jazz band performs in an international jazz music style and a great and new experience every night. CJW has also employed well-known foreign chef to prepare a European style menu, a delicacy bar snack and delicious western food. In a word, CJW is as luxurious and high class as one could ask for, maybe too much for a city like Beijing which is still on its way of development.

3. The Most Diverse Club of the Year: Bank Club

Near the East Gate of Workers’ Stadium, the Bank Club experience is like getting two completely different clubs in one night. Before midnight, the club is packed with local clubbers, with hip hop music played; but when the clock strikes midnight, music changes to electric, and expats totally dominate the dance floor. Also, Bank is the only club packed with ladies on ladies’ nights on Wednesdays, thanks to its long list of free cocktails to choose from.

4. The Most Disappointing Club of the Year: China Doll

When it opened in late 2006 in Tongli Studios, Sanlitun, China Doll was regarded “a club that changes the pattern of Beijing’s nightlife world.” However, the club turned out to be the year’s biggest disappointments, because of a change in management.

The special aesthetic appeal of China Doll is still the same, featuring photographer Chen Xuren’s pictures of skinny-dipping lovelies, while painter Shen Ling takes responsibility for the equally provocative images adorning the lampshades found on the second floor. However, without DJ Youdai as the music director, the club is merely a pretty face. And where have all the fun-themed parties gone?

5. Club of the Year: Tang Club

The Tang Club (Micheng, “fascinating the city”) is a spin-off of the Angle Club, a pioneer in the area around the West Gate of the Workers’ Stadium, the hottest clubbing area in Beijing. Opened at the beginning of 2007 near Chaoyang Park, other wannabes can seldom compete with Tang’s popularity and influence on the night scene.