By early evening the courtyards of the 1912 District are filling with people moving between low buildings, and along Shanghai Lu students are settling in for the night. Nanjing's nightlife is compact and easy to read: a downtown cluster of restaurants, bars and clubs, and a university strip where foreign students, English teachers and young locals mix.
The city suits visitors who prefer to move between venues rather than commit to one, and who are willing to ask locally for what is current. Nanjing's bar scene is constantly changing, so the most reliable approach is to talk to locals or expats who can show you the best places to go in the moment.
Where to go out in Nanjing
1. 1912 District
This is the epicenter of Nanjing's nightlife, roughly a city block of two and three-story buildings with paved courtyards between them. Almost all are restaurants, bars or nightclubs, with a few spas and upmarket clothing shops in the mix; many buildings look as though they might date from 1912, and the newer ones match that style. It sits right downtown, just west of the Presidential Palace.
The best way to experience it is to get there and hop between bars and clubs, buying beer from convenience stores and making friends along the way. Some more Chinese-style clubs offer free drinks for foreigners, though this free alcohol is low-quality or fake. To get there, tell a cab driver to take you to 1912 (yi jiu yi er), or take the subway to the Fuqiao stop on Line 3 and go a few blocks south.
2. Shanghai Lu
The area around Shanghai Lu, which runs between Nanjing University and Nanjing Normal University, has quite a few expats, mainly foreign students or English teachers from the two universities, and some places that cater to them. It is a good fit for a low-key, conversational night rather than a big club night.
3. Bars and clubs
A government order is in place to shut down all bars and clubs at 02:00. Some places remain open, however, so it is best to meet people who can take you there.
4. Theatres
The Jiangsu Province Kunqu Theatre gives you a chance to see Kunqu Opera, a traditional Chinese art form, firsthand. Expect the dialogue to be sung in ancient Chinese, but LED subtitling in English and contemporary Chinese characters is provided.
5. Hot springs at Tangshan
Tangshan is a historical natural hot springs area, known as one of the popular places to enjoy great vistas of the mountain, surrounded by tranquil forests and lake. It suits a quieter evening than the downtown bar districts, and is reachable by express bus from Nanjing South Railway Station.
How a night out unfolds
The sources give only a few fixed points. Bars and clubs are ordered to shut at 02:00, though some places stay open. At Ellen's bar on Shanghai Lu, a western-style restaurant during the day, the transition into a bar happens around 20:00 every night. Beyond that, timing is best judged on the ground, since the bar scene is constantly changing.
Festivals and events worth timing a trip around
- National Day and the National Day Golden Week holiday — early October
- Double Ninth Festival — October
- Christmas Day — December
- New Year's Day — January
- Spring Festival Eve and Chinese New Year — February
Frequently asked questions
When do bars and clubs close in Nanjing?
A government order is in place to shut down all bars and clubs at 02:00. Some places remain open, so it is best to meet people who can take you there.
Where is the main nightlife district?
The 1912 District, roughly a city block of two and three-story buildings with paved courtyards, just west of the Presidential Palace. Almost all the buildings are restaurants, bars or nightclubs.
How do I get to the 1912 District?
Tell a cab driver to take you to 1912 (yi jiu yi er), or take the subway to the Fuqiao stop on Line 3 and go a few blocks south.
Where can I see traditional opera in the evening?
The Jiangsu Province Kunqu Theatre stages Kunqu Opera with LED subtitling in English and contemporary Chinese characters.
Plan your evening around one district rather than several, and ask locally on the night for what is currently open.