Original Sanlitun Bar Street Slated to Close Today

The New Year has arrived, and it’ll soon be taking its first victim: the original Sanlitun Bar Street – just east of Taikooli South – is slated to officially close today, Jan 31.

As we reported back in December, the bars along the east side of Sanlitun Lu opposite Taikooli have been asked by the Sanlitun Sub-District Office to close in January. This was confirmed by notices posted on the front doors of a number of venues that were dated Dec 25, 2022 (see below).

The notice reads that Sanlitun Bar Street venues were appraised by a third-party organization and found to be Grade D, meaning the structural safety of the venues is not suitable for continued operation.

What’s more, many of the bar street venues have not renewed contracts that originally expired over a year ago, on Dec 31, 2021.

They have been asked to vacate the premises on or before Jan 31, 2023, and pay any unpaid rent and fees prior to this date, or bear all legal consequences.

Per a report published this morning by 极目新闻 Jimu Xinwen, only three bars on the street appear to have fully closed as of 7pm on Jan 29. The remaining bars were sparsely populated, the report continues, with employees and owners coming in to take care of things before the bars finally close and guests coming in for a final goodbye.

We’re not quite sure what’s in store tonight for Sanlitun Bar Street, but seeing as this is the final night before things end for good, there could be one final hurrah for patrons and owners alike.

Any plans to visit the street tonight or have any fond memories of Sanlitun Bar Street? Let us know in the comments!

READ: 2022 Year-in-Review: Places We Bid Farewell to, Pt. 2

Images: The Beijingers