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While Beijing taxi drivers tend to initiate conversations with customers about politics and world affairs, their Guangzhou counterparts are prone to ask, "where are you going to get 'wet' this evening?" They do not mean where are you going for a swim; what they mean is, where are you going to have fun? Strangely, locals literally use the English word "wet" to refer to "have fun." This is not surprising because as one of the few cities allowed to engage in free-wheeling economic reform since the end of the 1970s, Guangzhou has had tremendous Western influence for better or for worse. Indeed, after putting in a full day of work, Guangzhou locals just want to put on their party faces and dance and or sing until the wee hours of the night. Nightlife Guangzhou people are a fun-loving lot, and they find a tremendous amount of nocturnal enjoyment when dusk falls. The majority of young people don't hesitate in checking out the various discos, karaoke bars and cafes that the city has to offer. Popular discos in Guangzhou include House Disco, Rolling Stone Club, Focus Club, D&D and Face Club, which usually open doors at 9pm. On weekdays, discos are usually free of charge, depending on how business is doing. On weekends, they charge as much as RMB100 for cover charge. Besides a bar and dance floor, most of Guangzhous nightclubs come equipped with KTV facilities (private rooms with karaoke facilities). If using KTV, expect to buy a drink as part of the fee. On the dance floor, there is no minimum consumption required, but once you sit on a bar stool, expect to be approached by a waitress serving beer. Beer prices are usually quoted by the dozen, and a dozen bottles of beer usually cost RMB160-360. If you want to purchase just one bottle of beer, expect the price to be much higher each. On the dance floor, you can join the crowd by waving your arms and stomping your feet to the loud music, or if you want to really strut your stuff, imitate the scantily-clad dancers who lead the crowds on the stage. Locals sitting down in the background are not necessarily resting. They usually are engaged in social games such as guessing riddles and jigsaw puzzles. In fact, many young women and men are employed by the nightclubs to guess riddles with you free of charge. Bars in Guangzhou can be categorized as "performance bars" or bars without performances. Tian Shang Ren Jian (Human World in the Heaven) Bar, China Town Star Show Bar, Cat Walk, Hollywood, and Big Shanghai Karaoke Box, all feature live performances by local bands and dancers. The non-performance bars usually only feature background music. Occasionally, a guest guitarist is tucked away in a corner, plucking a guitar. Compared to Beijing, which is home to the popular San Li Tun Bar Street, Guangzhou does not have a bar street yet. But Sha Mian and Tao Jin Keng (Gold-digging Cave) have the citys largest concentration of of bars, including such veterans like Deep Breath, Lan Gui Fang, Lucy Bar, and 360º Bar. Film Guangzhou cinemas usually have screenings during the day and evening. Two or three films are shown consecutively during each screening session. Single and double seating are available. There is usually a large screening hall for the masses; if you crave some privacy, smaller private compartments are available at a higher price. Visitors can check the daily newspapers such as Yang Cheng Evening News for movie listings. The Blue Diamond Cinema in the Culture Holiday Hotel and the cinema in the Tian He Entertainment Center are arguably the best-equipped movie theaters in Guangzhou--and the most expensive, with tickets selling for RMB30-40 apiece. The Cultural Palace Cinema, the Yong Han Cinema and Huan Han Ying Du (South China Film Capital) are medium-grade cinemas in terms of facilities. Tickets usually sell for slightly more than RMB10. University campuses and auditoriums of government departments are the cheapest film venues in Guangzhou. They sell tickets for approximately RMB3 each. Cantonese Opera Considered the traditional opera of Guangzhou, locals call Cantonese Opera the "Big Opera". However, as is the case with Peking Opera, Cantonese opera lovers are visibly dwindling. Professional Cantonese Operas can be often viewed in the open-air theater of the Culture Park, Center Platform, on weekends. On afternoons, amateur Cantonese opera lovers descend on the dining halls of the Qi Qun Building and Da Tong Restaurant where they sing to the accompaniments of bamboo and string music. Music Although most Guangzhou residents would modestly shake their heads and claim ignorance about "serious culture", more people are heading to classical concerts and ballet performances in recent years. This is partly due to the Guangzhou municipal government who has set a price ceiling for concert tickets at RMB30. The government is making an effort to make these art forms available to everyone, eliminating the public association with the bourgeoisie and the rich. Named after the famous Chinese composer, Xian Xing Hai, Xing Hai Concert Hall is the most prestigious performance venue for musicians in Guangzhou. Besides the annual New Years Concert, many major Chinese and overseas orchestras perform here. In addition to concerts, the Friendship Theater and the Zhong Shan Memorial Hall also stage ballet performances. Electronic games Mostly favored by teenagers, many adults in Guangzhou are also crazy fans of video arcades and computer games. For computer games, gamers can get their fix on the fifth floor of Tian He Cheng (Heavenly River City), Bing Fen Entertainment Center (on the fourth floor of Li Wan Square), and Nan Meng Gong (Southern Dream Palace). Shooting, dancing, boxing, racing, surfing, and skiing can be virtually experienced on the computer screen! Electronic gaming parlors are extremely popular in Guangzhou; you can find them in almost every tiny lane in the city. These parlors generally focus on shooting and boxing, which are the more traditional kinds of on-screen sport. |
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