Chegongmiao in Shenzhen’s central Futian district isn’t known for its nightlife and culture; just your basic high-rise office buildings and crowded shopping, which is very familar Shenzhen scenery. However, this author was happy to discover a hidden gem in this most typical of areas…

Brown Sugar Jar happens to be located in a back-road industrial area by the name of Huanggang Technology Park, and if you can actually find the place then you’ll be sure to enjoy its quirky atmosphere. Irreverent Chinese art adorns the walls (such as juxtaposed paintings of Bruce Lee and Chairman Mao), giving it the style of the Beijing art scene or a European college pub. Upstairs has a foosball table, of course, and comfy couches for lying back and getting drunk. There are reasonably priced cocktails, wine sold by the glass, and a broad assortment of imported beers.

Seems more Beijing than Shenzhen…

Best of all is the grand center stage, which is perfect for catching a local indie band. I would suspect further bands will be touring here in the future, as the venue gets discovered by more and more music fans. And this goes for bands specifically, not just DJs. Brown Sugar Jar is a perfect place for live musicians utilizing actual musical instruments, which is a welcome and unique factor compared to all the other Shenzhen nightclubs.

Live music is a specialty

The only negative aspect is the location. Simply make sure to print the address and prepare to pay for taxis driving in circles for a bit. But after the first go, you’ll definitely want to come back and after several tries then have the route memorized. Hope see you there!

Brown Sugar Jar’s address, phone number, and other details can be found on The Nanfang’s Brown Sugar Jar Nightlife page.