Several Beijing Nightclubs Forced to Close for Two Weeks
If you're hoping to go clubbing soon, you'd better call ahead, because several Beijing nightclubs have been ordered to close for two weeks. Several Sanlitun nightclub operators, who asked to remain anonymous, attributed the two-week ban to this year's National People's Congress (NPC) legislature summit.
Managers at three different Sanlitun nightclubs – Sir Teen, One Third, and Mix – have confirmed that local authorities ordered their establishments to close temporarily. A source says neighboring Elements Club has also been hit with this short term shutdown, though curiously enough, the management at nearby Lantern says that their establishment will be unaffected.
Stranger still: thus far, the only establishments affected by this crackdown appear to be in the Sanlitun area. The owners of clubs in other neighborhoods, such as Xinyuanli's Zhao Dai and hutong neighboring Tango 3F, say they have not received such notices.
Tough as this two-week crackdown will be for many of the Sanlitun club operators, they say it is at least preferable to the wave of drug raids that have hit popular Beijing bars and restaurants during other recent leaders' summits. Indeed, a couple of quiet weekends at home sounds downright ideal when compared to on-site urine tests, a visit to the police station or, worse still, deportation.
The Sanlitun club managers told us the ban will end on Mar 16. We recommend trying to call ahead or check individual clubs' WeChat accounts if you're planning to go out partying before then.
Images: courtesy of One Third, giphy.com
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