How Will You Ring In the New Year? A Guide to Beijing's New Year's Eve Parties

Jessica Rapp | Dec 27, 2013 8:00 pm | Add a comment | 8688 reads
 
We've served you the scoop on drink deals and nightlife this weekend, and, like us, you may have noticed that Beijing's party calendar seems a bit more empty than usual. Don't fret – by the looks of it, our fair city is still recovering from Christmas Eve and recharging for a smattering of unforgettable New Year's Eve bashes. After taking stock of December 31's prospects, one thing's for sure: from booze to grooves, there's a little something for everyone.
 
If you like to drink:
 
Great Leap Brewing
To close out a memorable 2013, GLB is hosting an all-you-can-drink extravaganza at both locations: RMB 200 if you're out at their Original No. 6 location, and RMB 300 to party at Xinzhong No. 12.

Parnas
Enjoy delectable cocktails from a special list just for New Year's Eve, along with four DJs and parties on two floors of Nali Patio's newest bar-restaurant-club space. Make sure to RSVP in advance for your RMB 288 ticket.

Xian
Start off your evening with a free glass of bubbly, DJs and live bands.

Gulou 121
Cheers Wines is sponsoring the drink at Jiugulou's jam bar, Gulou 121, and you can get in on a free pour if you stop by and help them celebrate.

Missa and Manifesto
Celebrate with free flow wine, beer and cocktails for RMB 218 (or RMB 168 if you buy a ticket in advance).

If you like live music:

Yugong Yishan
You can count on a selection of some of the city's most energetic live indie rock and electronic music acts to take you through midnight, including Mr. Graceless, Pentatonic, Caffe-In, Elenore, DJs Dead J, DJ Ouyang, DJ KaR and VJ Pixel Falls.

School
Why party just one night, when you can party for two? School gets the festivities started early, with local crews Residence A and Chinese Modern Guys kicking things off on December 30 and Bedstars and PB 33 closing out the double-header on Tuesday night.

XP
It seems like everyone is talking about the return of Hot and Cold, those noise-pop brothers who took a two-year break from Beijing in 2011. Their set is supplemented with Alpine Decline, After Argument, Birdstriking, and White+ for a striking night that just might make you forget the clock struck 12am.

Worker's Gymnasium
While we can't promise any Auld Lang Syne, but if you're into squeezing in some internationally acclaimed classical music into the last hours of your year, Chinese pianist Yundi will be tinkling the ivories at 7.30pm.

Jianghu Bar
If your jam is western Mongolian folk, let Taan Towch throat sing you to sleep with songs the likes of "Lullaby" and "Cloudy Snow Mountain." Just try not to snooze before midnight.

If you like to dance:

LIV
He has worked with the likes of David Guetta, Tiesto, Afrojack and Avicii, and now the Swedish DJ Filip Jenven is in Gongti's latest nightclub to show off his stuff.

Yen Countdown
Another year, another Countdown as the regular New Year knees up returns. Scheduled to entertain are Morse DJs, Eddie Lv, Oshi, Kay C, X Lee, and Demone.

If you like to foot it to some of the best drops in town, heading to Migas is a surefire way to keep your rump shaking until the early hours of 2014 to everything from trap and house, to hip hop and disco. They're going all out as usual: two rooms, six DJs, non-stop music, bottle specials, and churros and chocolate.
Shed the old and usher in a brand spanking New Year with Genesis at Lantern featuring futuristic techno grooves from top Beijing’s DJs including Weng Weng and Ou Yang.

Modernista
Swing in the New Year with the Terry Hsieh Collective, who will bring the soul, the funk, and more. Gather the courage to kiss your crush with RMB 10 shots at midnight.

Beiluoguxiang's nu disco, dubstep, and drum and bass basement is not only celebrating a new year, but another birthday. Join DJ BB Deng DJ Lucywang and DJ Darcy for hardcore hutong dancing.
 
Going great lengths to start off 2014 right just might be worth it if you're doing it at the Great Wall, dancing to live jazz at The Schoolhouse's New Year's Eve gala and dinner.
 
If you like to dress up:
 
Party like it's 1950 at Wahoo Bar, and score a free cocktail if you come sporting your vintage frocks. Ladies get in free, RMB 50 for the dudes.
 
China World Summit Wing's sky-high bar is going all Leonardo DiCaprio on Beijing with a Great Gatsby-themed bash. Get ready for 1920s flair with a modern twist, a la Kanye West's dirty soundtrack in the recent motion picture.

Cicada
Start 2014 afresh against a backdrop of dazzling white, as Cicada UltraLounge is transformed into a luxurious Winter Wonderland. Celebrate in style with exclusive "Gold" and "Bubbles" drinks packages. One glass of Perrier-Jouët champagne is included with each entry. Dress code: glamorous white.

Ink
If you dressed up for Cicada, you could also head over to Ink, where partiers will be showing off their bleachiest flair to dance to DJ Haze, whom Mix Mag has praised for creating one of the "top 50 dance tracks of all time" this year.

Photo: Quinn Dombrowski on Flickr