West Wing, Deshengham Tower, Beijing, China (Tel 8208 2836)

By the time I stumbled onto this bar I had given up hope of ever meeting a lesbian in China. The many listings I had pulled of the internet had proved woefully out off date, but as my travel buddy had left me for the evening (some american he met on the plane) I decided to try one last time.

Barely out the hostel, peering at my map in hopes that the metro station would leap out at me, when a local took pity and he keenly started enquiring about my destination. Eventually after assessing my inability to even negotiate the map he called the bar and wrote out the address in Chinese and urged me to get a cab (you can show your cabbie this picture).

 

After a drive involving lots of sign language my cabbie pointed to a large Tower that looked like it had been transplanted from the Forbidden City and now lives on a round-about just off a motorway.

This incredible structure houses what instantly has become one of my favourite lesbians bars. In the summer one can drink in the court yard or in the winter you can snuggle up in the basement bar.

Xiaotong, West Wing’s owner was waiting to greet me. She was very amused that random men were calling requesting directions for lost tourists. Such a awesome lass, I was very lucky that I had found her on a rather low key Thursday when she had time to utilise her perfect English.

On Xiaotong’s suggestion I returned on Friday when there was hardly a free table and met some fantastic women (university students who spoke English) who had found the bar while chatting online. My only regret is not leading the charge to the dance floor where I am sure everyone would have followed.

As kitch as Cubby Hole (NYC) and severing glam cocktails aka Candy Bar style (London) this is one place you can not miss when you are next in Beijing.