Partiers Bid Farewell to Vics, Beijing's Most Senior Nightclub

It's been suspected for some time that Vics – the Gongti-based mainstay of Beijing's night club scene – was living off borrowed time. In fact, ever since the announcement that the neighboring Workers’ Stadium would undergo renovations for the next three years beginning this September, the fate of Vics seemed all but sealed. After all, the project already forced Tube Station to find a new location for its flagship restaurant. Now, however, that fate has seemingly come to pass. Earlier this week, a source close to the matter told the Beijinger that Vics will in fact, not be reopening.

The confirmation is further bolstered by a video that began circulating this week of demolition equipment near Vics, implying that it would be destroyed. However, the club's building is, at the time of writing, still intact.

As the longest-standing club in Beijing with 19 years in its books, chances are you have a lot of (very hazy) memories of Vics. From amazing nights with friends and good looking strangers, to that time you got black-out drunk from fruit shots and lost your phone, only to be carried out by bouncers on a wheelchair. (It can't have just been me!)

Once upon a time, Vics was arguably the king of Beijing clubs, mixing up a nightly dose of soul, R&B, pop, and reggae. But music wasn’t the focal point of Vics; what made this club so attractive was the diversity of its clientele and energetic ambiance. Whether you were a tourist, an expat, local, or international student, you were welcome in Vics’ crowd.

Interestingly, at the time of its opening, the area around Workers Stadium and Sanlitun was far from being considered the heart of Beijing's nightlife. In fact, around 2002 bars in Houhai were growing at a rapid pace – the vestiges of which are still seen today –giving rise to a saying that would probably shock today's trendy Sanlitun fashionistas, “Farmers go to Sanlitun, cultured people go to Houhai.” Nevertheless, large-scale disco bars such as Vics, Mix, and Coco Banana all started proliferating. Likewise, when SARS hit Beijing one year later, the nightlife scene drastically changed with most clubs either being shut down or unable to weather the storm, ultimately leaving Vics and Mix as the only bars standing.

Unfortunately though, despite its resilient history, Vics has succumbed to Beijing's unrelenting march towards progress. It will, however, be sorely missed.

READ: Cinemas, KTVs, Gyms and More Get the Green Light to Open in Beijing

Images: Trip Advisor, Joey Knotts

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In my opinion VICs played a big part in shaping today's nightlife in Beijing. Before there was really nightlife in Beijing, there was already VICs. It may not be imaginable today, but 20 years ago, when Sanlitun was still a village of Hutongs and before "The Village" was built, VICs was the place where all the young expats would meet every weekend. And there weren't many at the time, we all knew each other. Entry was 10 RMB and Wednesdays was ladies night. They always played good western hip hop, rap and R'n'B. At the time we considered it the only place you could go and party well. We danced and experiened almost all our love stories and dramas at VICs. We would hang out at legendary "R'n'B" Bar and then head over to VICs. And had dumplings nearby before we head home (the place still exists, one of the few places that have survived the changes). I'm sorry to see it closes down, but it seems it's time to move on. Farewell VICs and thank you for all the great times!

Beijing is a great city with a great history of clubs and bars. This terrible place with low quality pop music and even lower quality attendance deserves to close. Goes late, and it's good for the city.

Giovanni Martini wrote:

John Farnworth wrote:

No need for nightclubs for dancing just been to the Sculpture Park earlier this evening must have been six different groups dancing throughtout the park.Seen this in other places throughout the city Wanfujing,Yuanyuantan Park,Olympic park also probably many other places throughout the city.

Dancing tends to be the swaying bridge between drinks and sex. Not my style, exactly. But dancing in the park rarely seems to drift off that direction.

Well said.. ROFL

~~“Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.” ~~.

No need for nightclubs for dancing just been to the Sculpture Park earlier this evening must have been six different groups dancing throughtout the park.Seen this in other places throughout the city Wanfujing,Yuanyuantan Park,Olympic park also probably many other places throughout the city.

John Farnworth

It will, however, be sorely missed.

Say what? People in Beijing prefer to dance vs. stay healthy?? Am I the only one still social distancing???

Nea

Giovanni Martini wrote:

"Beijing's unrelenting march towards progress. "

Pray tell, how is destroying useful things people like, "progress." Financially-driven change for the sake of change is rather the opposite of "progress."

Financially-driven change for the sake of change is rather the opposite of "progress."

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