Beijing Boyce

Just a few week ago, doomsday scenarists hypothesized a Beijing nightlife scene with bar rooftops closed, outdoor seating removed, a 2 AM curfew imposed, blacks and Mongolians banned, a regime of regular ID checks, strip searches by security dressed as the Fuwa mascots, and so on. The media called it - and in some cases still do - the “no-fun Olympics.” Even a mere blogger like me was interviewed by BBC, Newsweek, and a dozen other mainstream outlets on the topic. Irony 1: My message was that the media is exaggerating. Irony 2: Numerous reporters told me off the record they agreed.

The city’s nightlife scene has by and large been “business as usual.” Yes, lady bar touts are scarcer (good news), some establishments, notably near the north entrance of Workers Stadium, are closed, and bar owners have faced onerous regulations and maddening bureaucracy. But sitting outdoors on a rooftop with your black friends after 2 AM has not yet proven to be a problem.

And if my outings are any indication, the nightlife scene is increasingly busier, which I guess is due in part to visitors getting over jet lag, going from seeing the sites to hitting the town, venturing behind their “national houses” and, well, not getting drenched by storms every night.

Two factors, however, are affecting the fun: 1) China’s visa restrictions, which have limited the number of visitors, and 2) the large number of bars, clubs, restaurants and hotels that opened in Beijing this year and spread the scene thinner. Expect both to have an enduring impact long after the Games are over.

The Beijing Olympics won’t end up as the wildest ever, but they are fun and they will end up being among the most memorable.