OutUK's Adrian Gillan has visited Beijing, capital of China and a
country that's home to one in four of the world's gays!
WHERE TO STAYBeijing's modest scene falls into three main parts, two of which lie near each other in the Chaoyang district just east and west of the Worker's Stadium, itself just east of city centre and therefore a good place to make your base; the third, final and most indigenous scene is that of tucked-away bars, saunas and cruising - both online and in the bush - which is far less known to non-locals. |
Chilling on The Great Wall.
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As said, an obvious place to accommodate yourself would be anywhere around the Worker's
Stadium near the Dongsishitiao subway. There are several classier hotels where the
strong pound will buy you a lot for your money. But if you're on a real budget, then
there are several budget and 3 star hotels in the Worker's Stadium/East Second Ring Road
area, starting from 200 RMB (around £22.50 pounds) a night. You can find them at an online
booking service like ctrip. You'll experience a constant parade
of "People's joggers" and Tai Chi fitness fans - and a good place to actually meet,
talk and debate with real Chinese people up from the provinces. You can have a slap-up meal
anywhere in Beijing for under £5 a head including drink - and the airport shuttle bus passes
conveniently nearby.
EATINGIf you're peckish after the ten hour flight from Heathrow and a bit thrown by the eight hour (seven hours in summer time) time difference on top of that, you can get a caffeine kick at various nearby cafes, including Starbucks and Costa Coffee, just opened one block north in the Oriental Ginza Mall, Dongzhimenwai. Gongti Xi Lu, the road between the Worker's Stadium and the Worker's Gymnasium, a drum shaped building just west of the Stadium itself, is home to various Chinese and Western restaurants offering plenty of choices at very reasonable prices. If you're looking for something more upmarket, you could try the Japanese restaurant Morio in the luxury boutique Hotel G in a small side street just behind the premier gay bar in town, Destination on Gongti Xi Lu. For some people-watching, you could go to Bellagio, also on Gongti Xi Lu, for Taiwanese food and super desserts.The Gold Barn, an upmarket, atmospherically-lit tea house with a folksy-yet-modern interior, has lots of interesting furnishings and lamps and a large collection of Chinese and English books to browse. Again, The Barn is mixed but - because of its location - groups of gay friends come here to play cards, sip and chat in cosy and relaxed surroundings, with fab service. Further east on Gongti Bei Lu is a large Starbucks with outdoor seating area at the Pacific Century Place. This has a very mixed crowd of young professionals, businessmen and shoppers looking to chill out and relax. BARS, CLUBBING & MOREBut if you fancy a serious drink by now, next to the Barn you'll find the not so secretly named Secret Garden - a trendy, gay-run bar (not exclusively gay by any means) with Garden of Eden style botanical interior and half-private alcoves formed by see-through nets - all a bit over the top and, again, pricey by Beijing standards. | |
| However, by far the most popular place in town is Destination ('Mu Di Di' in Chinese) on Gongti Xi Lu. It seems to have forced all other competitors into obscurity or bankruptcy. Gongti Xi Lu itsef has become the Sunset Strip of Beijing, with numerous bars and clubs which come alive after dark - busy traffic and taxis blocking the street after midnight. |
Destination - Beijing's most popular gay club.
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Destination has expanded several times and is now a series of bars and lounges (even one
labeled as 'non-smoking' but not always strictly enforced) spread over two floors,
and a crowded disco with guest DJs. It consistently attracts a diverse crowd of young
locals, expats, some ladies and the occasional rentboy. It is packed out on Friday and Saturday nights
after 10 or 11 p.m, and quieter during the week.
There is an entry charge at weekends and on some days with special events.
Kai Club is a simple, no-frills gay bar & club with DJ, a small dance floor and booth seating. Kai attracts diverse, young mixed/gay crowd. Funky opened in July 2013 and quickly became a local gay institution. It's a sophisticated nightclub that features a dance floor, stylish décor, a lounge bar, state-of-the-art sound system and a rooftop terrace with skyline views. Mix Club offers a spacious dance floor and several bar areas. The club hosts live performances, drag shows, and themed parties, attracting a youthful and energetic crowd. The Hot Cat Club is located in in Beijing’s vibrant Gulou district. It offers live music spanning genres like rock, reggae, indie pop, and blues and there's also some free comedy shows. It's a cozy LGTBQ-friendly venue. | |
| If a noisy disco bar is not your scene, then you could try the Thursday night half-price sessions before 11pm at Mesh bar in The Opposite House, an upmarket hotel halfway up the bar street on the west side at no. 11 San Li Tun (The Village North). It has no name on the front but the hotel frontage is made up of seemingly green and grey square panels. This gathering is not exclusively gay, but became a legacy of a Yahoo social group called proMen who used to meet there. |
Mesh in the trendy Opposite House Hotel.
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One of the most stunning views on the water is The Boat, a funky bar located at the side of the Liangmahe canal, north of the Sanlitun bar street. This is an alternative place to meet mainly on weekend evenings. A further recent addition to Beijing's gay nightlife is the third season of Queer Comrades (previously called "Queer as Folk Beijing" QAFB). The plan was for regular showings at a Beijing bar of podcasts on issues affecting the LGBT community. Two years earlier a couple of young Chinese gay men started QAFB, the country's first independent video podcast dedicated to discussing the issues that affected them and other members of China's LBGT community. They have already produced 35 talk show episodes and have attracted more than 5 million hits. They use a mix of entertainment and free-wheeling discussion to document the intricacies of the burgeoning LGBT community, as well as the challenges many of its members still face. Although not busy their website continues to list some events. Q-Space is a grassroots, non-profit organisation who believe that embracing diversity is the key to solving social issues. Their vision is of a future where all people, no matter who they are have a chance to create the change they would like to see in the world. Their space is open and embracing and a place to share knowledge and skills. They focus particularly on the empowerment of women and the LGBTQ+ populations. Beijing Queer Film Festival is an LGBT film festival held annually. It was the first LGBT film festival to be established in mainland China, founded in 2001 by the Chinese author and LGBT film director Cui Zi'en, a professor at the Beijing Film Academy.Initially established at Peking University, it has also used locations like the French Institute, the Dutch Embassy, cafes, and private homes, reflecting their guerrilla approach to navigating censorship. The event runs from September to November each year. Boyair likely refers to a large Beijing-based group of gay men who organize an annual talent show. The event features a variety of performances, including drag, fashion, singing, Beijing opera, dance, and traditional Chinese music. The members use "flower names" as pseudonyms, adding to the event's unique character. |
| If you're a bear or an admirer try the two-floor Bear Den bar. They often organize events and shows at the weekend when the bar can get quite crowded. It's a highly local crowd that's a rare mix of young, mature, and chubs; or maybe even check out Fengfan Weiye Club in Guang An Men Wai, known locally by its previous name Da Fan Sauna. It's south west of Beijing on the West Second Ring Road and really only reachable by their receptionist guiding your Chinese-speaking taxi driver in on your mobile. |
| This guide has been updated by ChinaMango who offer a professional, gay-managed tour guide service with qualified local English-speaking guides. They give a highly-recommended discreet, individual service tailored to your needs at reasonable rates, whether as a first time visitor, or a more adventurous traveller wanting special excursions to neighbouring sights such as in Chengde, Tianjin or Pingyao. No timewasting on shopping or factory tours unless you want to! Apart from a conventional day tour, ChinaMango can offer a night tour including kungfu show/acrobatics/Beijing Opera and visit to a bar (which can sometimes be difficult to find if you can't speak Chinese) to make new friends. It's also indispensable if you want to keep up with the rapidly changing scene! |
A tour guide from ChinaMango.
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Revised August 2025. |