Hebei is a coastal province in northern China that wraps around Beijing and Tianjin on three sides and meets the Bohai Sea to the east. It holds the UNESCO Chengde Mountain Resort, the eastern terminus of the Great Wall at Shanhaiguan and Laolongtou, the Beidaihe seaside resort, and the world's oldest open-spandrel stone arch bridge at Zhaozhou.
Hebei's nightlife is modest next to Beijing or Shanghai. Shijiazhuang, the provincial capital, has a small year-round scene of expat pubs and craft-beer bars near Zhongshan Road East and the Wanda Plaza walking streets, plus common Chinese KTV (karaoke box) culture. Qinhuangdao's Beidaihe resort district adds a highly seasonal summer scene: a seaside bar park and a beachfront night market that are busy June-September and largely dormant the rest of the year.
Shijiazhuang has the only year-round scene, small as it is; Beidaihe's bar park and night market are the summer highlight and are largely dormant the rest of the year.
At a glance
- Peak hours
- Shijiazhuang bars 8PM-midnight, busiest Friday and Saturday; Beidaihe bar park and night market busiest 7-10PM, Jun-Sep only
- Average drink
- Beer ¥15-40 (approx USD 2-6); cocktails ¥45-80 (approx USD 7-12); KTV room ¥200-800 per night (approx USD 30-120), typically split among a group
- Dress code
- Casual at bars, breweries and night markets; smart casual in hotel lounges
- Cover charge
- Hebei is not a major nightlife destination. Shijiazhuang's scene is small and concentrated near Zhongshan Road East and Wanda Plaza; Beidaihe and Qinhuangdao's scene is a seasonal beach-resort scene tied to the Jun-Sep summer.
Nightlife districts
Where the action happens after dark.
Shijiazhuang Zhongshan Road East
Long-running strip of pubs near Zhongshan Road (East) and Guang'an Dajie in Chang'an District
Best for: Beer, English-speaking staff, casual evenings
Shijiazhuang Wanda Plaza walking street
Mall-adjacent walking street with cocktail bars and a craft-beer taproom
Best for: Cocktails, craft beer, after-dinner drinks
Beidaihe Biluota Seaside Bar Park
Open-air cluster of bars and stalls around a lit spiral tower on Beidaihe's shorefront
Best for: Summer evenings, sea views, families and groups
Beidaihe Liuzhuang Night Market Street
Food-stall street a short walk from the Beidaihe shore, busiest in summer
Best for: Seafood barbecue, skewers, candied haws
Bars & pubs
Where locals drink.
Jinsha Fengqing Bar
Long-running pub with a wooden interior and English-language playlist, popular with Shijiazhuang's foreign residents as a low-key regular spot.
Known for: Beer and pub food in a wood-panelled room
Near Zhonghua North Street, Chang'an District, Shijiazhuang
Scotland Bar
Well-known bar about 150 metres east of the Zhongshan Road (East) and Guang'an Dajie crossroads, one of the more visible venues on Shijiazhuang's small bar strip.
Known for: Beer, mixed drinks and a lively room
Near Zhongshan Road (East) and Guang'an Dajie, Chang'an District, Shijiazhuang
Drinksology
Cocktail bar on the Wanda Plaza walking streets, opened by a bartender with experience in well-known Beijing bars; popular with a mixed foreign and local crowd.
Known for: Craft cocktails
Wanda Plaza walking street area, Chang'an District, Shijiazhuang
Saints Brewery
Craft brewery almost directly across from Drinksology on the Wanda Plaza walking streets, a regular stop for Shijiazhuang's foreign community.
Known for: House-brewed craft beer
Wanda Plaza walking street area, Chang'an District, Shijiazhuang
Clubs
For dancing into the early hours.
Biluota Seaside Bar Park
Open-air bar park on Beidaihe's shorefront centred on a 21-metre spiral tower that lights up at night; Qinhuangdao's best-known seasonal nightlife spot.
Cover: Free to enter; drinks and snacks paid per stall
Hours: Seasonal, roughly Jun-Sep, evenings about 7PM-midnight
Liuzhuang Night Market Street
Food-stall street a few minutes' walk from the Beidaihe shore, with seafood barbecue, skewers, candied haws and pancakes; one of the district's most visited summer check-in spots.
Cover: Free
Hours: Seasonal, roughly Jun-Sep, daily about 5PM-11PM
Live entertainment
Music, theatre, and performance venues.
Nightlife tips
Stay safe and have fun.
Shijiazhuang's bar scene is small; expect a handful of venues rather than a strip
Beidaihe's nightlife is a summer resort scene - most of it closes or scales back outside Jun-Sep
KTV rooms are booked and paid per room, not per person; agree the price and any minimum spend before entering
Ask for the drinks menu with prices before ordering in pubs and bar parks
Arrange return transport by DiDi before leaving a late venue, especially in Beidaihe