Bars, Nightclubs & Discos

Nanjing nightlife is nowhere near as varied as Shanghai's, but you can still find a mix of everything from karaoke joints to discos. There are also some remarkably good Western bars, complete with draught beer and pub games such as darts and pool. The clientele in the places mentioned below is usually a mixture of Chinese and foreigners, and they can be excellent places to meet well-to-do locals. You'll find the bars are generally busy throughout the week, though dancing is usually reserved for Friday and Saturday nights. A night out can be relatively inexpensive, as there is no cover charge for foreigners at most bars and beers can be as cheap as $10 per bottle. Go-kart racing has recently caught on in a big way: Mini Grandprix Sport, several blocks south of Zhonghua Men at 201 Yuhuatai (at #5 Yuhua Building), has the best racing track ($30 per ride).
Nanjing's cultural life, however, is sadly lagging far behind Shanghai's, though you might coincide with infrequent acrobatics or Chinese opera performances somewhere in town. The lecturers and foreign students at the Nanjing University Foreign Student's Residence are often in tune with the latest happenings. Upmarket hotels might also have the latest information on hand.