Hurry up. Time is running out. You’ve got until May 8 to vote in the Beijinger’s 2009 Bar & Club Awards. It’s your chance to express your opinion about which of the city’s nightspots and drinking dens are the best. Get voting here. If you do vote, you stand a chance to win prizes including tickets to our awesome awards party, which is going to be, well … awesome. OK, that’s the end of the shameless self-promotion.

It may feel like summer with the fine weather but it is, in fact, spring that is in the air. During this traditional time of rebirth, Beijing’s bars have not disappointed. First up, ChinaDoll in 3.3 should be open again and looking spick-and-span. Stadium has been turned into Danger Doyle’s, with alehouse stalwart Glenn Phelan now in charge.

Susan’s near the Lido has become The Irish Volunteer, to the delight of Lido locals who don’t want the bother of going nearer town for an Irish bar. What was latterly Golden in Tongli Studios has now become the samba-tastic Kick. Block 8’s i-Ultra Lounge is soon to be reopened as a Thai-themed bar called Ruby Khi. Above that, literally, The Beach is also getting a bit of a revamp with a new bar and new seating. You can expect to sun yourself up there from the end of the month. Hotel G has also got in on the act by rebranding 25 Degrees as Scarlett, which is, according to the press release, “poised to be the latest meeting point for young executives who like to have fun and chill out.” As it happens, you don’t have to be an executive to chill out and have fun there. Don’t be surprised to see dancers in little more than body paint. Outrageous.

This month also brings with it musical madness. It’s festival time. After the damp squib that was last May, this year looks double the fun. BaiCai are having their first-ever festival on May 22 at Tango. The BaiCai Welcomes Circus Company Festival, as the kids on the street are calling it, promises to be pretty exciting for those into house. Acupuncture Records are organizing Intro 2009. Expect all manner of techno tomfoolery from them including two street parties. Plus, there are all the other festivals on around town featuring the cream of Beijing’s DJs. Check the music listings for the lowdown. Prepare your livers.

Finally, Frank’s Place now accepts Paddy O’Shea’s discount cards. The card saves you 10 percent at Paddy’s but 15 percent at Frank’s. The thing is, they did this without asking Paddy. Uh-oh. Let the bar wars begin.

Bar Wars Update:The latest word from Paddy's is that now for every two pints of Guinness you buy at Paddy's you can go to Frank's and ask for a free one.

TALKING PINTS EXTRA: According to a recently published article in The Atlantic, baijiu might well be the biggest selling liquor in the world. They make no comment whether sales are driven by cab drivers. In more baijiu-related internet comment, local blogger Froog has posted tips on how to drink the ghastly grog. Plus, there's another post on a bar crawl the length of Nanluoguxiang. Have a look at that before you plan your three-day weekend.