Have A Lot of Fun in Beijing Sanlitun

Sanlitun is Beijing's most famous bar area. Sanlitun has become a popular bar street for foreigners as well as locals – Bar Blu and The Tree are among the more popular hangouts.Before 1949 the Legation Quarter near Tiananmen Square was the centre of diplomatic activity, but in the '50s it was moved outside the city centre to what is now known as Sanlitun. The large number of embassies and

foreigners working in the nearby UN building encouraged entrepreneurs to open the first Western style bars and restaurants.
North of the main strip and on the other side of Dongzhimen, behind the German and Australian embassies, is a quaint quarter of tree-lined shady streets more reminiscent of Shanghai than Beijing. There is a smattering of mid-price Western and Asian restaurants – some with beautiful roof gardens-as well as an increasing number of boutique shops. Further east, where Dongzhimenwai Dajie meets the Third Ring Road, is the Agricultural Museum.
Despite the less than family-friendly characters that hang out around Sanlitun Jiubajie-literally Sanlitun Bar Street-it's still the first and main bar area of Beijing and one of the most popular spots to head to for a night out. The Sanlitun Mall and the 3.3 Shopping Centre are both worth a visit during the day to pick up some one-off pieces that can't be found at nearby Yashow Market. Nali Market just to the east of the main street is home to some clean and bright cafés and shops selling ethnic jewellery, affordable shoes, bags and clothes.