Catch live performances at VA Cafe & Bar Live

VA Cafe & Bar

The VA Cafe & Bar, situated at the end of the hutong, focuses on live bands and performance. The founder and owner Liu Bin designed the bar himself with these focuses in mind, and it appears to have paid off. In addition to live performances, the bar will occasionally have special events such as movie premiers and caters mostly to young working adults who have some money to spend. Like several of the other owners we interviewed, Bin does not want to see the hutong become commercialized. When we asked what he wanted to see, he explained that he hopes Wudaoying will continue to be quiet and have its native flavor. There are more antiques and cultural artifacts compared to Nanluoguxiang, and “we need to preserve them.”

Lazzy Cafe

The final café we looked into is the Lazzy Café. In the daytime, the café serves western dishes and drinks, while at night it serves more alcoholic beverages. The shop is unique in several ways. The name of the café in mandarin translates as ‘sun rays’ and the café itself has large window panes designed to let in plenty of natural light. This light serves as a soothing agent for the patrons, creating a very relaxed atmosphere inside. The high wooden ceilings give the place a very bright and natural feel, and the entire café is decorated for comfort. The owner is clearly a music enthusiast, with one entire wall adorned with music CDs. Customers can choose whatever CDs they want from this wall and have the sound played through the café’s speakers. Occasionally, live bands are also invited to play inside. Wudaoying was chosen for the Lazzy Café because of the success had by the Vineyard as well as the charming atmosphere offered by the entire street. It is not commercialized, says the manager, like the hectic atmosphere in Nanluoguxiang. This interest in having a rustic atmosphere comes into conflict, however, with the manager’s desire for more parking lots to be available in the area to draw more tourists. It seems that this conflict of interest is common within Wudaoying.

Travel Tips

Give yourself half a day to explore Wudaoying. Any day of the week will be a good time to visit except Monday, when some of the shops are closed. Start with a late lunch and slowly work yourself through the boutiques along the street. Take a break in between and indulge yourself with a massage and manicure or cup of coffee. When dusk falls, feast yourself on a unique cuisine at one of Wudaoying's many Western-themed restaurants. The restaurants may be crowded on weekends, so try to make a reservation beforehand. After dinner, be sure to drop by a bar or club for live performances or parties. Wudaoying is generally safe but don’t let your experience be marred by pickpockets – always keep a safe watch of your belongings.

Getting There

The easiest way to get to Wudaoying is by Beijing Subway. You can alight at either Yonghegong station or Andingmen station and walk to Wudaoying.

Conclusion

Overall, it can easily be said that loyal customers can call Wudaoying a second home and immerse themselves into the old-Beijing environment. Many older generation Beijing locals still live in the hutong, and it makes the environment especially likable and authentic. With such growth though, we can only hope that it remains that way and continues to be a unique hutong in the Dongcheng district of Beijing.