Cafes and Bars in China: Examining the Spatial Routine of Drinking

Save this picture!

Both tea and alcohol in traditional China were similarly aestheticized, and both influenced the language of literature and art. People used to exchange alcohol as a gift in a way that they later would with tea. Today, more and more cities in China have embraced this drinking culture that passed down from generation to generation, and reinterpreted with a new contemporary fashion, which is constantly evolving in the urban cafes and bars.

How does urban context shape the contemporary drinking culture in China? How does drinking as a daily routine fit spatially into the increasingly crowded neighborhood? To provide a focused insight into the design of bars, cafes and tea houses in China, this article will analyze a range of projects located in ten geographically different regions.

1. Beiing