The last opening night: patrons bid farewell to Beijing’s iconic Sanlitun bar street

Beijing’s iconic Sanlitun bar street opened in the early 1990s, and is considered the start of Beijing’s then nascent bar and nightclub scene. But in late 2022, the government said the structural safety of the bars on the street was no longer suitable for operation, and asked owners to vacate the premises by Jan 31, 2023. Officials say the street will eventually reopen and retain its brand after renovations.