Sanlitun Savvy: Can You Stay Safe on Bar Street?

Paul Ryding | May 30, 2012 8:00 pm | 20 comments | 9224 reads

Young bucks going head-to-head in Sanlitun, especially the bar street, is nothing new. Testosterone- and alcohol-fueled violence has (sadly) become something to be expected in the area. The best you can do is know the dangers, be aware of the warning signs, and never be so drunk that you can’t flee in the event that you do find yourself in trouble.

But a spate of recent assaults has been a part of a more worrying escalation in the level of violent crime in Sanlitun, and has led us to wonder how far things have to go in the infamous party area before something is done about the problem.

In recent months, there have been a number of reports of innocent people being assaulted or mugged on their way home from a night out, with a number of these incidents taking place on the small street between the Village South, and Sanlitun Houjie (back bar street) leading onto Xindong Lu – the very same street as Sanlitun police station.

The recent story of a City Weekend staff member who was assaulted on her way home from a night out in Sanlitun served as another reminder that we don’t live in a safety bubble here in Beijing. It’s useful to be reminded of the fact every so often; a lot of foreigners living in the capital become blase about their personal safety, as Beijing is often a much safer place to live than the cities we come from.

And then on Monday an incredible video showed up on Beijing Cream showing one man receiving a savage beating outside Muse, the French-Vietnamese restaurant on Sanlitun Houjie. There is no indication of when the video was made, though it was posted originally on Worldstarhiphop.com marked May 23.

Though the footage is extremely violent, we thought it was in the community's best interest to bring it to wider attention. One of the most shocking elements of the video is bystanders' reluctance to interject. Not least those filming the incident.

(Warning: The following video contains graphic scenes of violence)

The startling thing about both these incidents is that they each took place within 100 yards of one of the district's main police stations.

Sanlitun can be a fun area, and this post is not intended to warn people off heading there on a night out. But it’s important to know the dangers and to try to be as vigilant as possible when enjoying the area’s nightlife.

Photo: ArchiTravel

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britomart's picture britomart Submitted by Guest on Wed, 06/27/2012 - 10:20

Hey, admin,

Any news on the City Weekend staffer who was assaulted? She recover ok? Anyone know if the police actually tried/succeeded in finding the guys who attacked her?

Doubt wisely; in strange way / To stand inquiring right is not to stray; / To sleep, or run wrong, is. (Donne, Satire III)

alextaggart's picture alextaggart Submitted by Guest on Sat, 06/02/2012 - 20:35

Very well said indeed, bluefish.

bluefish wrote:
Well, not that it's not been fun to point fingers at Chinese/blacks/police/foreigners-in-general, but...

How 'bout we just all agree that alcohol is not racist or bigoted in any way? It'll turn anyone stupid enough to binge on it–from any country or culture–into a first-class idiot.

Isn't that the point of this article? It's foolish to hang out late at night in a place where stupid people with no self-control are drinking themselves into insanity, attracting every criminal of every race in the city to come and prey on them while they're down. It's even stupider to go there to drink yourself into a state where you can't watch out, defend yourself or have the sense to stay out of dumb arguments.

Jerry's picture Jerry Submitted by Guest on Fri, 06/01/2012 - 10:17

Quote:
The point is that this video does not show that Chinese do attack foreigners on the street randomly as the article tries to make us believe.

"Chinese randomly attacking foreigners" is not mentioned anywhere in this article. The point is to advise people, no matter what their nationality, to be safe and aware when out in Sanlitun.

Jerry Chan, Digital Marketing & Content Strategy Director

bluefish's picture bluefish Submitted by Guest on Thu, 05/31/2012 - 17:00

Well, not that it's not been fun to point fingers at Chinese/blacks/police/foreigners-in-general, but...

How 'bout we just all agree that alcohol is not racist or bigoted in any way? It'll turn anyone stupid enough to binge on it–from any country or culture–into a first-class idiot.

Isn't that the point of this article? It's foolish to hang out late at night in a place where stupid people with no self-control are drinking themselves into insanity, attracting every criminal of every race in the city to come and prey on them while they're down. It's even stupider to go there to drink yourself into a state where you can't watch out, defend yourself or have the sense to stay out of dumb arguments.

new_here's picture new_here Submitted by Guest on Thu, 05/31/2012 - 15:40

Racist? What is racist about saying they are black. Seems like a simple fact to me. Wow, you are sensitive man.
The point is that this video does not show that Chinese do attack foreigners on the street randomly as the article tries to make us believe. This is not some random mugging or assault of someone on the way home, tu use the words of the article.

Pangzi's picture Pangzi Submitted by Guest on Thu, 05/31/2012 - 11:21

@newhere
of course all blacks have some business to conduct. Dont know what your are or where you from but you are f**** racist.

It doesnt matter if this where locals, foreigners or martians. Its just sad to see what kind of society we live in that people act like this and nobody cares I'm just surprised how much xenophobia, underlying racism and indifference about this kind of things came up among most people talking about this kind of incidents.

wmpoylee's picture wmpoylee Submitted by Guest on Thu, 05/31/2012 - 11:06

Wow - a lot of folks jumping to conclusions.

1. That's a foreigner kicking whoever is on the ground - not a "local" - so let's not create a stereotype about locals kicking folks who are down.

2. A number of people did try to stop the fight - as is clear in the video, and many of them were obviously local Chinese staff members. They got in front of an obviously out-of-control person who was quite tall and strong looking. Others tried reasoning - "You've won." to no avail.

FINALLY, let's not take a cheap shot at local police. We don't know if the bar called the cops and how they responded - or not - or whether later, this distinctive individual was arrested. Would one of the Beijinger's staff reporters please check this out and let us know?

Well, looks like at least one foreigner will be asked to leave under the crack-down.

Suddenly, SLT is not so hot an idea for carousing.

William Poy Lee

bigtiger's picture bigtiger Submitted by Guest on Wed, 05/30/2012 - 21:51

What is pretty clear from this video, taken together with the earlier video of the English guy attacked for his sexual assault, is the proclivity of the brave featured locals in being able to keep kicking someone when they are down and out.

As well as the inability of the "spectators" to show any balls, and stop it happening.

Bit sad really.

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