Yugong Yishan 愚公移山
West courtyard former site of Duan Qirui Government, 3-2 Zhangzizhong Lu,
Gulou
张自忠路3-2号段祺瑞执政府旧址西院
6404-2711
www.yugongyishan.com
doro@yugongyishan.com
This Venue has been nominated for a Reader's Choice Award 2010 in the category Beijing - Best Live Music
- City Weekend
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This gorgeous Gulou nightspot is deservedly hailed as one of Beijing's premier venues for live music. Its high stage, stellar sound system, elegant classical design and upstairs lounge will please both those who come for the music and those who come for the scene.
- Contributor
Description -
One of the premier venues in Beijing for live music, Yugong Yishan has a stellar sound system and awesome roster of international underground acts, not to mention affordable drinks and a voguish lounge.
Contributed by doro
2 years, 6 months ago
Reviews Been there? Add a review!
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there arent any Chinese here. All foreigners...for a more authentic experience, it cant beat places like Mao!
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The problem with Yugong Yishan is that its a great club for a show if less than 100 people show up. Anymore than that, though, and the narrow design makes for a useless experience.
The further back you go (away from the floor), the worse the acoustics get and the less likely you are to actually see whatever act it is you've come and dropped your money on.
I've seen some great shows here when the crowd's relatively small. But once it gets packed, its really not even worth the gas it costs to drive there, much less the door charge, since you'll see or hear very little.
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Went for "reggae night" last night and it was totally lame. Huge waste of 60 entrance fee. I was so excited to go somewhere in Beijing with good reggae, but honestly, I've had a much better time listening to Legend on repeat at Pure Girl... The music wasn't even really reggae and pretty slow and hard to dance to. They'd closed off most of the floor- a sign they didn't expect the night to be popular? There weren't many ppl there at 12:45, and most ppl were leaving quickly after they got there. Think I could have DJed a better reggae night, and that's really not saying much. I've been to better things here, but to be honest I think it's pretty overrated. Drinks are ok I guess, but seem a little pricey for the kind of place it is and the state of their bathrooms - last time I was there I stepped in some huge pool of water in the middle of the bathroom and that was pretty gross....
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They have great events there. But again with the overpriced and disgusting drinks...
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The old Yugong was a MILLION times nicer.
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Too bad that Yugong Yishan has recently raised drink prices by Y10 across the board. But maybe they've lowered ticket prices? Still a good place to see good music...
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Yes, the coat check (free) is so key, especially during the winter when you're dying to strip off five layers of insulation plus your michelin-man Northface jacket. Good music lineup here, and this being Beijing, I can't really complain about the acoustics. Like any club, the drinks here are expensive but I've had some really memorable nights here. Good times.
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I dont think the acoustics are that bad. They are certainly preferable to some of the other live houses in beijing... and they play music inbetween sets! Yugong is great-- and plays such different styles of music depending on when you go.. If had one fault its that its world-class; in the sense that you could be anywhere in the world inside those doors. Any overseas traveller would be able to tell you somewhere that it is similar to. I rate Yugong Yishan as my "favourite place to see a band i like" slightly edging out MAO in that they have more seats and a professional bar. AND A COAT CHECK!!
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One of the best and most beautiful spaces for music in Beijing. But because of high ceilings without anything to absorb the sound, Yugong sometimes turns into an echo chamber. I often can hear people chatting at the bar even with an ear inside the stage-right amplifier.
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End of the story : they accepted to pay me a new jacket or to give me 4000 RMB
I thought it would take ages to get a refund, they are really honnest.
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This is by far the coolest place I have been thus far. Its perfectly sized, not overcrowded, designed in a great retro-way, and yea...nothing is really lacking.
Even more so, the staff were outright polite and chill, and the water is free!
The sound system was descent, and they did not over-play the bassline or did anything else stupid.
Now I only pray they will start playing underground electronica on a regular basis and I will finally have my "home" in Beijing.
Full score!
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Great live music venue, with reasonably priced drinks and nice, chill atmosphere.
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One of the best live music spaces in Beijing, Yugong makes it possible for those on the East side to avoid the trek to the West to rock out.


Lots of Chinese at the venue, just depends on which act your going to see. MAO has a better sound system and the lighting is more Pro, but YGYS is just a better place to hang out at. You can breath if there's more than 300 people there the bar is still within site of the stage. There's a 2nd one upstairs out of the noise for when you want to occasionally want to avoid that opening act. Pit's a bit low through, I find I get a neck crick if I want to watch the band really up close and they should definitely do something about the sound set-up. It lacks the sound design of MAO and you can here it in the first front of the pit. From a taste perspective, there's usually a better line-up at YGYS. MAO tend to bring have good bands and mix them up with some dubious contenders. Through MAO is more Chinese as it seems like part live venue and part training ground for some young Chinese bands. But overall the live music scene in BJ is just way better than club scene if nothing else than from a diversity and quality of venues. The location is also fantastically cool. I've impressed a few jaded New Yorkers here. Everybody does the wooh it's so big thing the first time they walk through that door.