Setting the Scene: Sanlitun's Top 5 "Firsts"

This post is sponsored by Sanfine International Hospital, offering state-of-the-art care and world-class service in the heart of Sanlitun.
 

Back in the day Beijing shut down at dusk and everyone went to bed well before the witching hour. But as the roaring 90s rolled in, a new class of wheelers and dealers emerged and China’s once-sleepy capital started to stir after dark. This was the birth of Beijing’s now-famous nightlife scene, and today Sanlitun is ground zero for everything from bespoke cocktails, flaming steaks and spicy fajitas to boutique hotels, fast-fashion accessories and Apple gadgets. All this, plus a constant parade of people from all walks of life, not only make Sanlitun a prime destination for food, fun and drinks, but also a constant topic of conversation here in Beijing and in the international press. 

And now, rounding off the area’s world-class amenities, comes the opening of Sanfine International Hospital, Sanlitun’s first international hospital, located in the Shimao International Center just across the street from the Workers Stadium.

To mark the occasion, we present this run-down of “Sanlitun Firsts” – a list of fascinating facts that matches the dazzling dynamism of Beijing’s most vibrant, cosmopolitan and cutting-edge district. 

5. Sanlitun's First Bars

The Insider’s Guide to Beijing, our old guidebook series, marks Sanlitun’s first bar as Frank’s Place, which opened its doors in the spot of what is now The Den in 1990 (in fact, Yours Truly was one of its earliest patrons that summer, when he as studying Chinese at Beijing University). According to the New York Times, several Chinese publications have also cited Café Café, which opened on Sanlitun Bar Street proper in the “mid-1990s” as among the area’s first drinking establishments. 
 

4. Sanlitun's First Clubs

Throughout the 1990s, Sanlitun establishments mostly consisted of bars, cafes and pubs – a good portion of which were on the seedier side. All of this changed in 1999 when Henry Li, a former hotel bellhop-turned bar owner, upped the ante and opened Vogue (a.k.a. 88). Located on Xindong Lu just beneath the current location of Sanfine Hospital (in what is now Shimao Plaza), this two-story nightclub attracted a steady stream of hip locals, glazy-eyed expats and Chinese celebrities (plus a few foreign ones, including Oliver Stone and Quentin Tarantino, who was in town at the time shooting Kill Bill).
 

3. Sanlitun's First Touch of Class

If you were shopping back in Sanlitun in the 1999-2000 you'l probably remember a time when Sanlitun was home to a smaller version of the old “Silk Alley” (Xiushui Jie) – which consisted of rows upon rows of outdoor stalls selling all varieties of clothes, knickknacks and accessories. These stalls were open by day on the sidewalks lining the main bar street, until they were whisked away at night to make way for the bars and punters. In the early 2000s local authorities cleared out the stalls in early years of the 2000s to make way for Sanlitun's first major retail development, which you may now know as the Yashow Clothing Market.

2. Sanlitun's First International Coverage

Sanlitun had the occasional spot of coverage in guidebooks and articles before the 2008 Olympics, but it was The Village (now known as Taikoo Li), with all its swank, sleaze and craziness, that truly put it in the international spotlight. That summer, in addition to all of the star athletes hitting the clubs, NBC’s Today Show rolled into town to check out Sanlitun as part of a series on Beijing nightlife. Unfortunately a few years later, in 2011, things turned ugly when fights and a near riot broke out in the teeming throngs of people queuing up in front of the Apple Store to buy the latest iPad. 

Sanlitun was in the news yet again this past summer with the viral sex video scandal at Uniqlo, and there has even been a feature film made about Beijing’s favorite nightspot – This is Sanlitun – starring the Beijing-based actress, producer and erstwhile Sanlitun Club owner Ai Wan. 

1. And Now … Sanlitun’s First International Hospital

This month marks another milestone for Salitun: the grand opening of Sanfine International Hospital, the first world-class, full service hospital in the greater Sanlitun and Workers Stadium area. Specializing in General Family Medicine, Dentistry, Gastroenterology, Cardiology, TCM, Medical Imaging Cosmetic and Women’s Health Care, Sanfine has an unparalleled range of leading edge equipment and facilities, including:

1.5T Signa HDxt MRI – The newest MRI model captures a three-dimensional view of the whole brain in less time and with greater image quality than its predecessors.

Cardiac Gemstone CT Scan – The newest CT scan on the market uses lower dosages of radiation and creates higher quality images, allowing it to detect even the smallest of lesions.
 

GE´s Senograph Digital Mammography – Built with advanced technology to reduce radiation dosage and increase patient comfort, it also boasts the industry´s largest imaging field of view to provide the clearest images and better diagnosis.

Waterlase MD and Biolase Diode Lasers – Utilizes the latest technology to ensure less swelling and bleeding and more overall comfort and efficiency during dental sessions.
 

Sanfine International Hospital’s advanced medical equipment encompasses the modern style and sophistication of Sanlitun, however it is the hospital's high service standards that truly enrich Sanlitun’s distinct, global appeal.

Above all else, Sanfine prides itself on having some of Beijing’s most highly experienced doctors and specialists on staff.

Their impressive roster includes Dr. Wendy Wen, who was the first doctor to successfully use a gynecological microsurgical technique that has boosted the fertility rates of 90 percent of its patients; as well as Dr. Mingzhe Chen, a cardiovascular expert who has published more than 200 theses in medical journals within China and around the world, along with winning multiple prizes in Natural Science for the Ministry of Health, State Science and Technology, and the State Education Commission in Beijing; and Dr Tony Hsu, an expert in Paedodontics and cutting-edge laser dental techniques, is also a licensed dentist in Hong Kong, United Kingdom and China.

Come and check out what Sanfine has to offer. For more information on the hospital, its services and doctors, click here.

Photos: Uni You, courtesy of Sanfine Hospital