DJ Pancake Lee on the Best of Aurora Before Goodbye This Weekend

The venue, also known for its tacos created by chef Chen Wen Cai, was founded by DJ Pancake Lee in 2018 and has since expanded to Tianjin, as well as Hainan, where beachside parties rage through the night. However, it seems the pressures of setting up shop in an older, weary building in the capital has forced the owners’ hands, resulting in the closure of the Beijing location. But Lee tells the Beijinger that they aren’t giving up on this city – so keep your eyes peeled for another location in the near future.

Sit down and dine during the day, party at night. Aurora had it all.

This isn’t Lee’s first goodbye to a Beijing club, though. He was the resident DJ of Haze until it closed in 2013, balancing his time between days at the office as an insurance salesman and nights out at the clubs.

DJ Pancake Lee at the Aurora opening in 2018

While we look forward to Aurora’s hasty return, as we Beijingers know all too well when a venue leaves a location, a portion of its spirit remains behind. On his fondest memories of the club, Lee recalls, “I think the best times we had were the New Year’s Eve parties. So much happiness was shared at Aurora in the leadup to the countdown.”

He added, “We were also one of the lucky few who didn’t have to close during the pandemic. Crowds were coming every day for the wildest parties – there were still people lined up to get in until 7.30am!”

advertisement