Beijing
Sanlitun & Chaoyang
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The expat and embassy district — international dining, rooftop bars, and Beijing's most cosmopolitan nightlife.
The expat and embassy district — international restaurants, rooftop bars, luxury malls and Beijing's most cosmopolitan nightlife. The CCTV Tower looms over China's financial centre. Sanlitun's pedestrian strip and the adjacent Worker's Stadium area form the social hub of international Beijing.
Scores
Walkability
Transit
Price
Local feel
Nightlife
Family-friendly
Centrality
What you gain
- ↑The widest range of international cuisine in Beijing — from Georgian to Ethiopian to Japanese omakase — concentrated in a 1km radius around the Sanlitun SOHO complex
- ↑The Worker's Stadium renovation (2023) has created one of the finest mid-capacity live event venues in Asia, with international acts regularly playing dates that avoid the capital's larger National Stadium
- ↑Chaoyang's art gallery cluster around 798 is accessible by taxi in 15 minutes — the district and its restaurants make a natural Chaoyang day circuit
What you sacrifice
- ↓The most international district in Beijing — the atmosphere feels more like any global city's expat quarter than specifically Chinese, which is either an advantage or a significant loss depending on what you came for
- ↓Nightlife in the Sanlitun bar street corridor is targeted at a young international demographic; the bars are loud and the crowd changes significantly after midnight
Best for
Avoid if
Other Beijing neighbourhoods
Imperial Beijing — the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, and hutong lanes in the city's oldest district.
Lakeside hutong bars, willow trees, and Drum Tower sunsets — the most atmospheric part of central Beijing.
Beijing's student heartland — cheap dumplings, late-night noodles, and a youthful energy far from the tourist trail.
Know where to stay — now find when to go.
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