By evening the barbecue smoke starts to drift over the street stalls and the teahouses east of Qingcaohe fill with people lingering over a last pot of tea. In the west of the city, the taverns and small clubs along Wanfu North Road begin to open their doors.
Laiwu's nightlife is not built around a large bar or club district in the western sense. Most alcohol is drunk at dinner, and much of the evening trade is street barbecue, teahouses, milk tea shops and coffee shops, with a handful of taverns, live-music bars and one rock club for those who want to stay out later. It suits visitors who prefer eating and drinking at a relaxed pace, and who are happy to make a small number of venues the whole of their night.
Where to go out in Laiwu
1. Street barbecue, Luzhong Food City
Street barbecue is one of the main ways people drink in the evening here, with beer served alongside the food. Luzhong Food City is the area the sources name for this kind of night.
It suits a group dinner that turns into a long evening of eating and drinking rather than a venue-by-venue crawl.
2. Teahouses, milk tea shops and coffee shops east of Qingcaohe
The area east of Qingcaohe is where you find Chinese teahouses, milk tea shops and a growing number of coffee shops. It is the quieter end of a night out, and works well for conversation rather than for drinking.
Maoye, a comprehensive mall on Wenhua South Road, has Starbucks on the first floor and Luokin Coffee on the fourth, along with many milk tea shops. It is open 09:30-21:30, so it is an early-evening stop rather than a late one.
3. Taverns on Wanfu North Road
Wanfu North Road has a small cluster of taverns, including Nice to meet you at No. 61 and Endless Night Bar at No. 91. Nice to meet you is described as a small, quiet tavern with resident singers sometimes performing, a range of drinks and moderate prices, with a bottle of beer usually around ¥10. Both list hours of 18:30-02:00.
This suits a low-key night with a few drinks and music in the background rather than a loud club.
4. Party House, Fengcheng West Street
Party House, at No. 65 Fengcheng West Street, is a club that plays rock music and is described as drawing locals, generally opening at night. The sources note that the range of drinks is not large and that many people come for the atmosphere. It lists hours of 20:00-04:00 and a price point of ¥200.
This is the choice for a late, loud night and for anyone who wants rock music rather than conversation.
5. Huka bar, Yuanshan Road
Huka bar, at No. 17 Yuanshan Road, combines a club with a tavern. Singers usually perform, but it is described as less noisy than a club, with a variety of drinks and imported beer. It lists hours of 18:00-02:00 and a price point of ¥150.
It suits people who want live performance and a wider drink list without a full club atmosphere.
6. Stellar Livehouse, Wenhua North Road
Stellar Livehouse, in the middle section of the first floor of Yigao Venture Building on Wenhua North Road, is described as a new bar and a substitute for Huka Bar, with somewhat higher prices. It lists hours of 18:00-03:00 and a price point of ¥180.
It is an option for a later finish, though the sources do not say what is currently on there.
How a night out unfolds
The sources describe most alcohol being drunk at dinner, with beer also served at street barbecue later in the evening, so a night out tends to begin with a meal rather than with drinks. The taverns and bars listed generally open between 18:00 and 20:00, and the latest closing times given are 02:00 for the taverns and bars and 04:00 for Party House. Coffee and tea places close much earlier, with Maoye's hours ending at 21:30. The sources do not describe a standard local dining time beyond this.
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
Is there a bar or club district in Laiwu?
Not in the western sense. The sources note that there are few bars and nightclubs of that kind, and that most drinking happens at dinner or over street barbecue. The venues that do exist are spread across individual addresses rather than clustered in one nightlife quarter.
Where can I drink if I do not want a club?
The taverns on Wanfu North Road, such as Nice to meet you and Endless Night Bar, are quiet, low-priced options with beer around ¥10 a bottle. The teahouses, milk tea shops and coffee shops east of Qingcaohe are the alternative if you want no alcohol at all.
How late do places stay open?
The taverns and bars listed close at 02:00, and Party House lists 04:00. Coffee and tea venues close earlier, with Maoye open until 21:30.
Do I need to book ahead?
The sources give no booking information for the bars and taverns. For the helicopter tourism base at Xueye Aviation Sports Park, appointments are required in advance.
Decide whether your evening is barbecue, tea or a late bar, check the hours before you set out, and plan the rest of your night around that one stop.