MAO Livehouse Xi'an

MAO Livehouse Xi'an, which opened in December 2018, is the Xi'an branch of a nationwide chain of live-music venues found in major Chinese cities including Beijing and Shanghai, and it functions as the city's main dedicated stage for touring and local independent rock, punk and indie acts. The 600-square-meter venue holds up to 600 people standing, with a simple bar serving beer and basic cocktails rather than a cocktail-forward drinks program, since the draw is the music rather than the bar. Located in Qujiang New District in Yanta District, a newer part of the city built up with modern retail and entertainment complexes, it's a distinctly different scene from the historic-district bars of Yongxingfang or Defu Lane -- younger, louder, and organized entirely around a touring and local gig schedule rather than nightly drop-in drinking. Shows are ticketed individually, with prices varying by act, and the venue doesn't run every night, so checking the schedule in advance is necessary rather than optional. It's the best option in Xi'an for travelers who want a live-music night out rather than a bar crawl.