Nightlife in Beijing Beijing Nightlife: Houhai Houhai is Beijing's newly developed old town of funky nightlife full of small bars and pubs with character. With the glow of lights over the lake Hohai takes on an unreal feeling - this is where Willy Wonka came to party. Most cafes and restaurants are individually owned and have their own unique style and service. Not to say that they don't copy each other's good ideas. A great place for dinner and then migrate from place to place for drinks. Or a nice stroll with good people watching. A mixture of old Beijing and the modern west, Houhai is worth a look. A great place for people of all ages - you can have drinks, tea or coffee and with so many little places to choose from you can find the right one for you. There are many other venues around Beijing - there are several publications which will tell you all the latest happenings: Beijing Talk, City Weekend, That's Beijing and Beijing this Month. Houhai Lake, home to about 100 of Beijing's small bars and pubs Also see Sanlitun More on Houhai from journalist Ron Gluckman