Gongti and Sanlitun

Leafy embassy area and stylish commercial centre
Talk of the town: The first bar in Beijing was established in this area back in 1989.

Word to the wise: Be aware that the Sanlitun bars range from hip and stylish (The Village and Nali Patio 那里花园) to outright tacky (Sanlitun Road 三里屯路).
Stretching from the workers stadium (Gongti) to Tuanjiehu subway, Sanlitun is a recently developed area popular among expats and wealthy Chinese, who come for the upscale dining, stylish cafes, and high-end designer shops. Beijing football team's home stadium, Gongti, is a favourite morning exercise spot for the energetic elderly, transforming into a heaving clubbing centre at night.

The elegant embassy area's buildings display a rich variety of architectural styles and its leafy avenues give an airy, relaxed feel - a rarity in the sometimes claustrophobic Beijing. While some have been renovated, or reflect their country's trends, many hark back to communist China with their minimalist Soviet-style architecture giving a somewhat nostalgic charm to the area.

At night, Gonti east road and Sanlitun north form Beijing's quintessential bar strip. At the weekend, bars, clubs, and streets overflow with a mixed crowd of party people who flock here for all manner of debaucherous activities.