by Dominique Wong
If you’re planning a big day or night out in Sanlitun this weekend, you may want to think again. From Saturday afternoon to Sunday afternoon, many popular shops, cafes, restaurants and bars throughout the area are under instruction to temporarily cease trading, due to a rehearsal for the September 3 military parade.
The closure appears to cover mainly Taikoo Li south and Courtyard Four areas (Sanlitun South), and will be enforced from 3pm Saturday, August 22, until 2pm Sunday, August 23.
The request follows the temporary closure of Tiananmen Square and the Wangfujing area, as already announced by Beijing municipal officials, and also due to the military parade rehearsal.
“In line with the work of commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, and in accordance with arrangements and notices from related Beijing Municipal Government departments, on August 22 and August 23, Sanlitun Taikooli South will come under martial law measures.
“According to the requirements of related Beijing Municipal Governments, during that period, all stores must temporarily cease operations. The time period is: August 22, 2015 3pm to August 23, 2015 2pm,” explained a letter from Swire Properties (owners of Taikooli) to tenants sent out earlier this week.
There have been rumors about the rehearsal for a couple of weeks, according to Dave Bob, Home Plate BBQ manager, but it was thought it would occur late at night: “We honestly didn't expect to be asked to close on peak days like Saturday and Sunday.”
Business owners’ opinions on the temporary closure range from indifference – “We don't mind,” says Modo Urban Deli – to pragmatic: “[It’s part of the] pros and cons of running a restaurant in Beijing. We respect [local police] wishes,” says Dave. Several businesses also stressed they had “no choice,” adding that, “the Chinese government is very strong.”
Indeed, there’s no escaping the fact that Sanlitun has been making news headlines lately. There was the Sweetie Salad Spartan incident, Uniqlo sex tape, and most recently, the tragic murder of a young Chinese woman (see our report on the incident here). The timing of the government’s closure instruction does seem like a convenient way to ensure absolute order during its military parade rehearsal, which is a sensitive event itself (though as Dave from Home Plate stresses, “this shutdown of Sanlitun was planned prior to the act of random violence”).
Sanlitun is one of the most fashionable areas in Beijing. It’s a verifiable hub for business, shopping, eating, and nightlife, as evidenced by the increasing number of new businesses that clamor for their own slice of Sanlitun pie. Recent events can’t help but make us wonder whether Sanlitun is on the fast track to being viewed as a liability for the government, which must be controlled. It’s an uneasy thought, and only time will only tell.
The 3pm-2pm closure hours are non-negotiable, although many of the affected businesses are choosing to open around these hours. We can confirm the following opening hours for affected/non-affected bars, restaurants, and shops in the area, as well as those businesses that will be closed over the entire weekend:
Courtyard Four
All businesses within the 1949 courtyard, including Jing-A Taproom, Traitor Zhou's and more, will be closed for at least the official mandated time, from 3pm Sat - 2pm Sun.
Jing A: Aug 22, closed; Aug 23, 5pm onwards, open
Taco Bar: Aug 22-23, closed
Home Plate BBQ: Aug 22-23, closed (Sanyuanqiao location open as per usual)
Q Mex: Aug 22, closed; Aug 23, 2pm onwards, open
The Rug: Aug 22-23, closed (Chaoyang Park location open as per usual)
The Bookworm: Aug 22, 9am-2pm open; Aug 23, 4pm-midnight open
Pop-Up Beijing: Aug 22-23, closed
Taikoo Li
Element Fresh: Aug 22, 8am-2pm, open; Aug 23, 4pm onwards, open
Wagas: Aug 22, 8am-1:30pm, open; Aug 23, 4pm onwards, open
Modo Urban Deli: Aug 22, morning-2pm, open; Aug 23, 2pm onwards, open
Cantina Agave: Aug 22, morning-3pm, open; Aug 23, 2pm onwards, open
Blue Frog: Aug 22, morning-2pm open; Aug 23, 2pm onwards open
Sanlitun lu north
Adam’s: Aug 22-23, closed
Bottega: Aug 22-23, open
Jazz-Ya: Aug 22 until 2pm, open; Aug 23 2pm onwards, open
Gongti
Trouble Bar: Aug 22 closed; Aug 23, possibly open from evening onwards
Tribe: Aug 22 9am-2pm open; Aug 23 3-10pm open
Gung Ho: Aug 22 until 3pm, open; Aug 23, 3pm onwards, open (deliveries unavailable while closed)
LIV: Aug 22, closed; Aug 23, 9pm onwards, open
The Den: Aug 22, until 1pm, open; Aug 23, 1pm onwards, open
Sanlitun Bar Street
Kokomo: Aug 22-23, open
Luga's: Aug 22-23, open
Xinzhong Jie
Great Leap Brewery #12 Brewpub: Aug 22, until 3pm, open; Aug 23, closed (will open in the evening, exact time to be announced)
Sanlitun SOHO, Sanlitun North, Nali Patio, the Worker’s Stadium and Xinzhong Jie businesses by and large do not appear to be affected, but if in doubt, we recommend calling ahead.
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