Pass the Mic - Croon and Caterwaul the Night Away
If filling a leather-upholstered room with friends, beer and snacks and singing the night away is your idea of a grand night out, then read on. These are some of Beijing’s major “kalaOK” joints – book ahead for weekends, or be ready to wait a long line for a room. And since most of these spots are open 24 hours a day (except where indicated), you can croon whenever the mood strikes.
17 Miles KTV
This inexpensive bar-looking KTV by Peking University caters to students with a free, simple buffet around lunch and dinner time, cheap alcohol and student discounts. RMB 25 per person for four hours before 5pm from Monday to Friday and RMB 43 for 3 hours after 5pm. Dahengkeji Dasha, 3 Suzhou Jie, Haidian District. (8282 8988) 17英里KTV, 海淀区苏州街3号大恒科技大厦
Gongti 100
This KTV is in a prime location, surrounded by the glitzy nightclubs on the Gongti west gate strip. The rooms (138 in total) are decorated in a variety of styles, including an elegant Suzhou style and an old Beijing hutong home style. Despite the central location, prices are surprisingly reasonable – starting from RMB 15/hour for a small room. 6 Gongti Xilu, Chaoyang District. (6553 3333, 6553 8888) 开心一百, 朝阳区工体西路6号
Haoledi
Another KTV conglomerate with branches all over China, Haoledi is distinguished by fine service and quality equipment. The song selection can be somewhat random, but prices are good. Get a Hello Kitty member card if you want to a better deal. Shunmai Jinzuan Dasha, 52B Dongsanhuan Nanlu, Chaoyang District. (6772 6311, 6772 6322) 好乐迪，朝阳区东三环南路乙52号顺迈金钻大厦
Melody
This chain has outlets in four cities, with five in Beijing. If you need to sing, Melody is one of Beijing’s most popular karaoke bars. The selection of songs is huge – ranging from old to new, from Chinese to Cantonese and Japanese to English – and regularly updated. A wide range of food is available. 1) Opposite of Blue Island, 77 Chaoyangmenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District. (6551 0808); 2) Opposite of The Central University of Nationalities, 24 Zhongguancun Nandajie, Haidian District. (6218 9088); 3) Fulicheng, 61 Dongsanhuan Zhong Lu, Chaoyang District. (5903 7188) 麦乐迪, 1) 朝阳区朝阳门外大街77号(蓝岛对面); 2) 海淀区中关村南大街24号(中央民族大学对面); 3) 朝阳区东三环中路61号
Party World
This Taiwan-based karaoke chain arrived in Beijing in the 1990s to conquer the Beijing music scene. As a result, six Party World venues have sprung up in the capital. Its elegant décor and classic song books cater more to crooners over 30. Although prices for the Party World karaoke experience are relatively more expensive, the KTV chain boasts of a free breakfast, lunch or dinner buffet worthy of the extra charge. 1) 1/F, Fanli Dasha, 22 Chaoyangmenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District. (8857 6566); 2) 1/F, East Tower, Yonghe Dasha, 28 Anding楼men Dongdajie, Dongcheng District. (5811 3388); 3) 1/F, Tengda Mansions, 168 Xizhimenwai Dajie, Haidian District (8857 6588); 4) (6480 1010) 第五大道钱柜1)朝阳区朝阳门外大街22号泛利大厦1楼; 2) 东城区安定门东大街28号雍和大厦东楼1; 3) 北京市海淀区西直门外大街168号腾达大厦裙楼1层; 4) 北京市朝阳区慧忠北里309号天创世缘3楼
Tango
Combining a vast dance floor, swanky lounge and KTV bar, Tango is popular with clubbers. But this doesn’t lessen its appeal to singers who are drawn by its good equipment and enormous songbook. Prices are slightly higher than average, but you can always get a good deal on weekdays. 1) Daily 24 hours. South Gate of Ditan Park (next to Jin Ding Xuan restaurant), Dongcheng District. (6428 2288); 2) Daily 2pm-7am. Gongti Xilu (beneath Gongti 100 bowling alley), Chaoyang District. (6551 9988) www.tanguo.com 糖果, 1) 东城区地坛公园南门; 2) 朝阳区工体西路工体100保龄球馆下面
Tong Yi Shou Ge
Tong Yi Shou Ge has a shorter history in Beijing, first appearing on the scene in 2003. TYSG’s main specialty is that it provides different style rooms specifically for various functions, such as birthday gatherings, couples or family karaoke. With a greater emphasis on Chinese popular songs in its selection, Tong Yi Shou Ge is lesser known among expats. If the customers’ vocal cords need a rest, there is a range of arcade game machines, DDR, table hockey, and a huge buffet to occupy themselves with. Prices vary greatly between different rooms and times. 1) 36 Wenhuiyuan Xilu, Haidian District, (6225 6688); 2) 46 Xiaoyun Lu, Chaoyang District (6461 8886). 同一首歌 1) 北京市海淀区文慧园西路36号, 2) 北京市朝阳区霄云路46号
Yuesheng
Fine sound equipment and very reasonable prices (hourly rate starts from RMB 19) make this a good backup option if the major venues are booked out. The low prices also make Yuesheng a favorite among college students. 1) 32A Zhongguancun Nandajie, Haidian District. (6214 0299); 2) 1/F, Xinshijie Zhengren Dasha, 9 Chongwenmenwai Dajie, Chongwen District. (6708 6666) 乐圣, 1) 海淀区中关村南大街甲32号; 2) 崇文门外大街9号新世界正仁大厦1楼
Article from Agenda, issue 70, Dec 30-Jan 12. To read more from the most recent issue of Agenda, download the PDF here. To find a copy, contact our distribution department at distribution@agendabeijing.com with an idea of where you work, live or play and we'll tell you where you can find one near you.
