Popular bars for tourists and expats
Sanlitun is one of the area's most popular bars for tourists and expats in Beijing. To give you an idea of the kind of atmosphere, it reminded me a bit of Madrid's Calle Huertas, although the architecture and landscape does not resemble it at all. It is located in the Chaoyang district and its main artery is the Sanlitun Lu (Sanlitun street), but there are also many places, much better than on the high street which is too crowded by tourists. Best of all is the Houhai lake and the bars that stretch along its banks have good views. The streets surrounding the lake are called Houhai Houhai Nanyan and Beiyan and are nightlife spots and there's sometimes an interesting restaurant there too.