Evening in Yinchuan settles in early and quietly. In the warm months, the main square fills after dark with people dancing and playing games, and street markets and parks stay busy as the heat of the day fades. In winter, the dry cold pushes the evening indoors, into barbecue restaurants, bars and clubs.
Yinchuan's nightlife is modest and spread out rather than concentrated in one party strip. It suits visitors who prefer a local, unhurried evening: a meal of mutton and fish off an outdoor grill, a few local beers in comfortable surroundings, or live rock in a student bar. The Hui neighbourhoods and the city's street markets are part of the evening's appeal, so it is worth simply taking a bus in any direction and getting off where things look lively.
Where to go out in Yinchuan
1. The main square
The main square is the most straightforward evening out in the city. People gather there at night for dances and games, which makes it a good choice if you want to watch or join in rather than sit in a bar.
It suits an early, low-key evening, and pairs well with a walk through a nearby street market or park. The city's own advice is to take a bus in any direction and get off at a street market or park, so treat the square as one stop on a wandering evening rather than a destination in itself.
2. Xixia District and New Town
Xixia District is the urbanised western part of the city, and its commercial centre is the anchor for a New Town night out. Lian Yuan Bar, described as the best bar in New Town, sits a couple of blocks south of the Xixia District commercial centre; look for the KFC sign. It is well decorated, the staff are relaxed and friendly, and there are unobtrusive musical performances every night from 8PM to 9PM. Drinks there are a little more expensive than at some other places.
This suits a comfortable, seated evening with music rather than a loud club night.
3. Hubin East Street
Hubin East Street sits near the main hotels, which makes it the easiest area to reach on foot if you are staying centrally. Fall in Love Bar & Marry Bar is on this street, with comfortable seating and a younger crowd, and local beers to sit back with.
It suits a relaxed drink close to your hotel, and works well as a first or last stop of the night.
4. Clubs with dancers
Yinchuan has clubs in the mould of The King Divine Luck Club (Kadilong) and Baby Face, both described as popular, with dancers and an impressive layout. At both, booths and box seats carry a higher minimum purchase.
This is the choice for a late, louder night, and for groups who want a table rather than standing room. Expect to spend more if you take a booth.
5. Barbecue and late grills
Barbecue is a central part of a Yinchuan evening. Bob and Leo's BBQ, on Beijing Luo in the New Town area, is an outdoor grill with a good selection of mutton and fish as well as vegetables, cheap beers, and occasional expat company. The owners speak English and are described as extremely friendly. It is inexpensive, and open late, or until you stop buying beers.
This suits a casual, drawn-out dinner that turns into the rest of the night. Note that the listed hours are given only approximately.
6. Tongguan Live House and the student scene
Tongguan Live House, in the 801 Creative Park in Xixia District opposite Beifang Minzu University, is a laid-back rock 'n' roll student bar with imported beers and spirits, live bands and alternative music. The bartender speaks English. The crowd runs from teenage art rockers and students to punks and the occasional foreigner, and it is cheap.
This suits anyone who wants live music and a mixed, informal room rather than a polished club. The location is tucked inside the creative park, so allow time to find the entrance.
7. Coffee chains for a soft landing
Come Back is a drink chain found almost everywhere in Yinchuan. Traditional western coffee is hard to come by in the city, but this chain sells its own version of a coffee drink, served hot or cold, which is not western style but is quite good and somewhat similar to a caramel macchiato.
This suits an early-evening stop or a night that does not involve alcohol.
How a night out unfolds
Yinchuan's evenings start with food. Barbecue grills such as Bob and Leo's run from around 17:00 and stay open late, or until you stop buying beers, so dinner can slide into the rest of the night without a change of venue. Bar music tends to begin on the early side: at Lian Yuan Bar the performances run every night from 8PM to 9PM, which suggests arriving before eight if you want to catch them. Beyond that, the sources do not give fixed closing times, and the city's own advice is simply to head out to a square, market or park in the evening and see where the night takes you.
Festivals and events worth timing a trip around
- Motorcycle Tourist Festival — late June.
- National Day and the National Day Golden Week holiday — early October.
- Double Ninth Festival — October.
- Christmas Day — 25 December.
- New Year's Day — 1 January.
- Spring Festival Eve and Chinese New Year — early February.
Frequently asked questions
Where should I go if I only have one evening in Yinchuan?
Start with barbecue, then choose between the main square for dances and games, or Hubin East Street if you are staying near the main hotels. Both keep the evening simple and close to where you already are.
Where can I hear live music?
Tongguan Live House in the 801 Creative Park has live bands and alternative music in a laid-back student bar. Lian Yuan Bar in New Town has unobtrusive musical performances every night from 8PM to 9PM.
Is there anywhere to go that is not a bar or club?
Yes. The main square hosts dances and games at night, and the city's own recommendation is to take a bus in any direction and get off at a street market or a park. Come Back coffee shops are also found almost everywhere in the city.
Do I need to book or spend a minimum at the clubs?
At The King Divine Luck Club (Kadilong) and Baby Face, booths and box seats carry a higher minimum purchase. The sources do not state minimums for ordinary entry.
Decide whether your evening is barbecue and a square, or music and a late bar, and plan the rest of your night around that one choice.