200, meters from the south gate of the Beijing Uni, Haidian

Open: 2pm-2am
24 Kexueyuan Nanlu, Haidian

This looks more like a military forward command post than a bar. The military-style decoration and regular salon for military fans makes it a favourite hangout for those interested in matters military and the art of war.

On entering you’ll see a portrait of a soldier drawn by the owner, next to which is a shelf displaying items such as shoulder emblems, weapons carried by a guard of honour and maps used in a number of famous wars. Also on the walls are pictures of planes, warships, telescopes and radio transmitters.

Usually video tapes on present-day weapons and war documentaries are screened. Even martial magazines are on offer.

Daily 6pm-3am
3 Weigongcun Lu, Haidian
6845 1142

This bar caters to the West Side climbing crew and organises climbing trips around Beijing. Mountaineering gear and camping equipment are the bar’s equivalent of wallpaper, along with posters of beefy scaling studs flexing their pecs as they ascend edifices.