Nightlife in Changchun is not as colorful and romantic as that of other big cities in China, such as Shanghai or Beijing. However, it has its own distinctive flavor which can be appreciated only if you sample it personally. Various kinds of pubs, coffee bars, teahouses and other amusement centers cater for your enjoyment.
If you come to visit Changchun, you can not only enjoy beautiful sceneries, but also the various kinds of amusement are waiting for you. Local features and exotic flavors mix together in Changchun so you are sure to find at least one to suit you.
In Heping Theatre (No.295, Chongqing Lu) and Liu Laogen Stage (No.8, Shanghai Lu) you can appreciate really authentic Er'ren Zhuan, a very popular and famous local folk art, by professional performers. In the downtown area or the spacious grounds of some plazas or in front of some of the department stores you can observe citizens giving spontaneous performances of Yangge (a traditional folk art). If you like, you can accept a warm welcome to join the group of hospitable Dongbei Ren whether you can dance with them or not. This is a way that you can get a totally different and fresh experience compared with merely watching performance in theatres.
Recommended places for you to visit:
Rhine Coffee Tea House
Address: No.9, Qingming Jie
Rbt (Xian Zong Lin)
Address: No.67, Tongzhi Jie
Be For Time Tea House (Bifeng Tang Tea House)
Address: No.85, Nanjing Dajie
May Flower Pub
Address: Renmin Dajie
The Fifth Street Coffee Pub
Address: Xikang Bystree, Tongzhi Jie
Lan Kwai Fong (Lan Gui Fang)
Address: No.4272, Zhengyang Street
A special introduction of Er'ren Zhuan
'Bengbeng' is another name for Er'ren Zhuan. It is the most popular form of folklore in this northeastern part of China and is deeply loved by almost all the people there. Er'ren Zhuan mixes dancing and singing together and its language is humorous and very easy to understand. Generally speaking its content is closely related to daily life. That's one of reasons for its popularity.
In the very early period, Er'ren Zhuan was performed by artists (who performed Yangge in daytime) at night by singing Dongbei folk songs. As time went by, immigrations of Guanli (south part of Shanhaiguan) increased considerably, therefore the integration of different cultures has richly endowed Er'ren Zhuan.
Er'ren Zhuan's sung form takes the Dongbei folk songs as its base together with Hebei Bangzi, Dongbei Dagu and other melodies and many folk jests. Er'ren Zhuan's dance comes from Dongbei Yangge, and includes folk dances, wushu and the skillful use of fans and handkerchiefs. It is no exaggeration to say that Er'ren Zhuan can best present you with a show of the real beauty of Dongbei Ren (people living in northeast part of China).
The performance of Er'ren Zhuan falls into three categories. For the first of these a man and a woman will speak, sing and dance together, hence the name Er'ren Zhuan. The second category is when a single performer sings and dances, this is named Danchutou. Thirdly, a group of people perform on stage and this is called Lachangxi. A common saying throughout Dongbei is that one would enjoy Er'ren Zhuan rather than have a dinner, something that illustrates the deep influence of Er'ren Zhuan among these people.
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Travelers' Voices on Nightlife in Changchun
1.
Aug. 21,2009 05:05 Reply
Mr.Yiimmy(Canada) said:
Question to who ever want's to answer and help out. New to the city by a week and a half... so where do all the foreign Caucasian girls hang out in the city. Think I have seen 3. Been to the mayflower 2 times and i only saw 2 there on separate nights. Anyways if anyone has the lowdown on where they are hiding or if there are others in this city of 7.5 million.. Thanks in advance.
ciao
Aug. 22,2009 14:29
Mr.John(UK) replied:
Hi Yiimmy,
I suspect you will be told that the mayflower bars are "THE" places for hanging out. I have been many times, they are ok, but I would sincerely hope that there is more than just this bar chain out there - The annoying thing about the mayflower chains is that they play the same music over and over and over and over again night after night, so its fine for a few nights but after a while it gets very routine. I have a feeling that there must be more than this in terms of bars, but as I commented before it is extraordinarily difficult to obtain current information (and so important in rapidly changing China) on socializing in Changchun on the internet. Longli Lu is described as the main bar street. I remember walking down there in July, it was like a ghost town. Dont expect a Bangkok or Beijing/ Shanghai feel here, but even somewhere like Dalian appears to have a vastly greater number of social spots for westerners. Hopefully someone in the know can answer our questions.... before year end !! :)
2.
Feb. 15,2009 21:12 Reply
Mr.Ray bennett jr(USA) said:
The Shangrila Hotel - Changchun is the only place in this city to see and hear real R&B American Music. I have lived in japan for the past 10 years performing Black Music and now i am in china.....It seem they do know more of the music than i thought.....people like babyface,Joe,Luther Vandross seem to bring a look of unfamiliarity to their faces...but they have to learn sometime !!!! i do song that they know...and some they should know....so far after 1 month here it is not as bad as i thought it might be. I have met many really nice people....Chinese and Europeans...not many Americans....
Feb. 22,2009 07:50
Mr.Flanders(Japan) replied:
Bennett-san (just to make you nostalgic about Japan)
I visited Changchun for a few days this past December. I did not go to the Mayflower but I remember seeing it from my hotel.
Hope you enjoy your stay. By the way, how much is the rent for apartments there? Just curious.
Thanks
Aug. 11,2009 16:45
Mr.John(UK) replied:
Hi, I have been to Changchun quite a few times visiting family and friends from the West. I find it extremely difficult to get any up to date online information about this city, particularly about nightlife. Its very hit and miss. For example there is little or no information online about the mayflower in the Shangri La even though it is quite good and modern. I once read that Longli Lu was a "bustling nightlife area" - I couldnt believe it when I was there, there was next to nothing open or even there, really quiet !! Im convinced I am missing something, that it couldnt be this quiet a city from a bar/nightlife perspective. Could someone in the know post some good bars including location as of August 2009 perhaps with a brief outline. I know the mayflowes in the shangri la and the other one just off renmin dajie. Any other nice locations like those ? Thanks in advance
3.
Jan. 12,2009 02:49 Reply
Mr.Ray Bennett(USA) said:
I am performing at the Mayflower at the moment.(Black American R&B Band.....Singer/ Keyboards.many europeans live and come to this bar. The People who play the music(cant call them DJs) play the music very loud!!!! But when we play live the levels come back to normal.....i usually leave the bar and sit in the lobby between stages...a bit too loud for me personally.
4.
Nov. 29,2008 05:31 Reply
Mr.Clemens(Germany) said:
The secound home.
A small pup in the near of shangri-la hotel.you find mostly international people. Nice music band and excellent DJ
Dec. 13,2008 17:09
Ms.mallie(Holland) replied:
Hello, I am thinking about going to changchun for about 6 months to study chinese. is the weather really that bad? How do you get along there???