By Lauren Johnson

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Beijing offers a lot in the way of night time entertainment. From amazing international-standard bars to cocktail lounges, clubs, plays, ballets and live music, the city has it all. But once the party really gets started the group always ends up at one of these amazing clubs. You can shake your booty from late until well after the sun has risen at some of Beijing's most glamorous, seedy or downright kitsch clubs.

For downtown fun where you'll always find a crowd head to the Worker's Stadium. Fringed with clubs like Vics, Mix, Banana and many others, the Worker's Stadium is the go-to spot for late night (or early morning) partying. But the fun comes with a side dish of danger as the bouncers in the area are known to be overly zealous, and have taken to harassing Western and African clients, including several severe beatings. Meanwhile, groups of drunk locals are known to dislike Westerners hitting on Chinese women in these clubs. As with anywhere in the world, stay with the group and be safe, and you'll have a world of fun!

Another fun area is Lucky Street, where you'll find the World of Suzie Wongs ready to swoop you into it's opium-den style cabaret. Beware some of the ladies here come with a price tag (tsk, tsk) but if you're out for a fun night with the lads it's a delicious place to while away the wee morning hours. Other clubs, like Juicy Club, The Beach and Tang, line Lucky Street.

For a fully Chinese clubbing experience, try Tang, Angel, or the infamous Babyface. All of these cater to the local crowd and are thus over-the-top by international clubbing standards. This can mean great fun if you don't object to neon drinks, flashing lights and cheesy '80s dance tunes.

10 Tang Club
Voted by trendy "Beijing This Month" magazine as the Best Club of 2007, Tang attracts an in-crowd of Beijing youth. Brightly decorated with purple neon and fibre optic cables, Tang offers karaoke suites on the second floor while downstairs a diet of lounge music, hip-hop and funky house music is served. (6500 8888)

9 China Doll
A three-tiered dance club / lounge designed with an erotic aquamarine theme. The lounge floor is popular, so if you want a table for your group, reserve it in advance. Dance floor tunes include hip-hop, techno, R & B and a midnight splash of jungle. Perhaps the best disco for over 30s! (51365871-111)

8 The World of Suzie Wong
One of the longest-running clubs in Beijing, The World of Suzie Wong is a flagship in Beijing's nightlife scene, founded in 2002. Named after the protagonist from British novelist Richard Mason's fiction, this flamboyant club is the place to hang out with the rich and pretty in the capital. The space is divided into five areas. The whimsical 1920-style Touch bar is the core of the club where DJs, performers and parties take action; the charming Suzie Wong lounge on the other hand mixes the modern and imperial Beijing styles in décor and is more intimate and classy. The spacious terrace can hold up to 200 people and is great to hang out at when the weather is nice. (+86 10 6593 6049, 6500 3377)

7 Nest
A small nightclub that is not as wild as many of the area's clubs, Nest's patronage is mainly Chinese and that is reflected in the decor and service. Hip-hop and loud bass are the anthems here, but entry is free, and it sometimes has live bands. (6552 8388)

6 The Den
The Den is a two-story discotheque that offers pop and dance hits upstairs and an opium den theme downstairs where great pizza and bagels are on the menu. Very popular with Westerners living in the city. (6592 6290)

5 Mix
This is THE place to go in Beijing for Hip-Hop, especially at weekends. It's a hardcore, sweaty, flirty, young crowd that hits Mix. Also serves decent food upstairs. (6530 2889, 6530 2689)

4 Bar Blu
A popular hangout for the young and promiscuous. Dance, disco, pop and techno is the main diet here. Bar Blu frequently hosts theme nights, so you should call beforehand to check what's going on. Happy Hour 5 - 9 and Ladies Nights on Fridays and Saturdays. Bar Blu also has a lovely refreshing roof terrace. (6417 4124, 135 2226 8845)

3 Banana
Banana is a European-style dance club with a heavy accent on trance and techno. It gets popular late at night, and with international DJs and an excitable crowd, it's one of the wildest spots in the city. (6536 3939, 6528 3636)

2 Babyface
If you want to rub shoulders with Beijing's young high society, this is the place to come, especially on weekends. Great tunes; in fact, it has something of an Ibiza flavor. (6551 9081)

1 Angel
This Chinese-style nightclub can often be a bit bright and kitsch, but it's a good nightspot for a group of friends as you can request a private room or a table. Service is good and drinks are not overpriced. (6552 8888, 6553 3555)

About Lauren Johnson

Lauren has been living in Asia for the past five years. She holds a master's degree in Asian history. Lauren spends her free time reading, writing and traveling and visiting zoos in every city possible.

Read more about Lauren Johnson here.

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