DJ Pancake Lee Remembers the Best of Aurora Ahead of Goodbye Party This Weekend

Earlier this week, Mexican restaurant and iconic tech-house club Aurora announced that it would be shutting its doors – but not before an all-out closing party to say goodbye this Friday and Saturday, Mar 26-27.

The venue, also known for its tacos created by chef Chen Wen Cai, was founded by DJ Pancake Lee in 2018 and has since expanded to Tianjin, as well as Hainan, where beachside parties rage through the night. However, it seems the pressures of setting up shop in an older, weary building in the capital has forced the owners’ hands, resulting in the closure of the Beijing location. But Lee tells the Beijinger that they aren’t giving up on this city – so keep your eyes peeled for another location in the near future.

This isn’t Lee’s first goodbye to a Beijing club, though. He was the resident DJ of Haze until it closed in 2013, balancing his time between days at the office as an insurance salesman and nights out at the clubs.

While we look forward to Aurora’s hasty return, as we Beijingers know all too well when a venue leaves a location, a portion of its spirit remains behind. On his fondest memories of the club, Lee recalls, “I think the best times we had were the New Year’s Eve parties. So much happiness was shared at Aurora in the leadup to the countdown.”

He added, “We were also one of the lucky few who didn’t have to close during the pandemic. Crowds were coming every day for the wildest parties – there were still people lined up to get in until 7.30am!”

For now, Lee will be pouring his focus into Aurora Sanya until a spot for a new club in Beijing can be found – which means it’s a perfect time for a trip south before things get too toasty down there.

READ: Prodigy Brewing Quietly Shutters Their Xingfucun Gastropub

Images: Kyle Mullin, Dianping