Bar
Atmosphere
A cocktail bar on the 80th floor of the China World Summit Wing in the CBD, billed as Beijing's highest, with city views, live acts and…
East Shore Live Jazz Café
An intimate live jazz bar by Houhai Lake, opened in 2006 by saxophonist Liu Yuan as a home for Beijing's jazz musicians and jam sessions.
At a glance
- Type
- Live jazz bar
- Area
- Houhai, Xicheng, Beijing, China
- Price
- $$ · Mid-range
Good to know
- Live jazz
- Jam sessions
- Lakeside location by Houhai
Why we recommend it
East Shore Live Jazz Café is a long-running live music venue, tucked down a quiet alley by Houhai Lake in the Shichahai area. According to China Daily, it opened officially in 2006 with a guitar trio on a warm Thursday night, and it marked its 20th anniversary in 2025 with sold-out shows by international guest musicians.
The club was the idea of Liu Yuan, a musician trained in traditional Chinese music who became known as the saxophonist for the rock musician Cui Jian in the 1980s and 1990s. Liu Yuan had curated jazz nights at CD Jazz Café, one of the first Beijing venues to host live jazz, in the late 1990s, and wanted East Shore to be a real home for jazz in the city. China Daily describes it as an unofficial school where young musicians could play and learn, and a place where musicians jam and audiences are expected to listen.
The room is intimate, with low ceilings, which keeps the focus on the music. The programme features both local and international musicians, and for more than a decade the guitarist Liu Yue played there almost every Thursday night. Expect jazz in a small space rather than a big-production show, and treat it as a listening room: chatter during sets is not the culture here.
The bar suits jazz fans, musicians visiting Beijing and anyone who wants an evening centred on live music rather than on drinks alone.
Programmes change from night to night, so confirm what is on before going, and arrive early for popular nights, as the room is small. The China Daily article does not give a street address, so look for the club by name around the Houhai shore.
The location makes it easy to combine with an evening in Shichahai. Walk the lakes at dusk, have a drink with a view at Sugarbar's rooftop on Qianhai, or eat at one of the lakeside time-honoured restaurants such as Qingyunlou or Kaorouji, before heading to the club for the music. Lost Plate's evening hutong food tour also starts from Shichahai station on Line 8. For a bigger stage, Blue Note Beijing near Qianmen hosts international acts most nights.
East Shore Live Jazz Café FAQs
When did East Shore open?
It officially opened in 2006.
Who founded it?
It was the idea of Liu Yuan, a saxophonist known for playing with Cui Jian.
What kind of music is played?
Live jazz from local and international musicians, including jam sessions.
What is the atmosphere like?
An intimate room with low ceilings, where audiences are expected to listen.
Where is it?
Down a quiet alley by Houhai Lake in the Shichahai area.
Which metro station is nearest?
Shichahai on Line 8.
Who played there regularly?
Guitarist Liu Yue played there almost every Thursday night for more than a decade.
What else is nearby?
The Shichahai lakes, Sugarbar's rooftop and lakeside restaurants such as Qingyunlou and Kaorouji.