The exquisite art of nightlife

(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-08-10 08:53

ChinaDoll is the place for Beijing's playthings pursuing the art of nightlife.

Here, works by prominent contemporary Chinese artists - all of which are for sale - complement an avant-garde design scheme. The walls are adorned with box-lit and holographic photos showing femme fatales caressing one another in less-than-platonic, but still tasteful, ways. Snapped by photographer Yin Cha, they are collectively entitled The Kiss.

Against this backdrop, a casting call of Beijing's beautiful people drape over elaborate furnishings or writhe on the dance floor.

The later it gets in Beijing, the more crowded it gets at ChinaDoll. Those seeking a little more elbow room can rent one of the eight VIP areas. The priciest is the Ai Wan Room - adorned with the visage of the establishment's owner - which costs 8,000 yuan ($1,170) to occupy for a night. That's before the cocktails, which range from 65-95 yuan ($9.5-14).

Ladies Night runs from 9-11 pm on Wednesdays, when Beijing's babes drink for free. On Thursdays, local legend DJ Wordy puts the room in a spin for "Hip-Hop Models' Night".

(One point of potential confusion is that ChinaDoll happens to neighbor Tongli Studio's Club China Doll, but don't confuse the two.)

Erik Nilsson

Address: 5/F, 3.3 Shopping Center, 33 Sanlitun Beijie, Chaoyang district 朝阳区三里屯北街33号3.3服饰大厦5层

Open: 6 pm-late, Monday-Friday; 9 pm-late, Saturday and Sunday

Tel: 5136-5871/72

(China Daily 08/10/2008 page14)