Tonghui Town Beijing Reopens as Laihui Club Street (2026)

Table of Content

Beijing · Nightlife

A Pointy-Roofed European Village Hiding Beside Beijing's CBD Just Reopened as a Late-Night Hangout

Sixteen gabled buildings with arched windows and painted walls sat dormant on the Tonghui River for more than a decade. On 29 October 2026 they reopened as Laihui Club Commercial Street — live bands, stand-up, crosstalk and a planned "Midnight Diner" block.

16 pointed-roof buildings Reopened 29 October 2026 11,000 m², nearly 30 venues

Key Points at a Glance

Tonghui Town, Beijing

Location & Setting Tonghui Town is a European-style precinct featuring 16 freestanding buildings with pointed roofs, located right beside Beijing's Central Business District along the Tonghui River.

Reopening & New Name After sitting largely dormant for more than a decade since its completion in 2009, the area officially reopened on October 29, 2026, under the new name Laihui Club Commercial Street.

Scale & Concept The mixed-use hub spans over 11,000 square metres, launched with nearly 30 stores, and is designed to provide dining, art events, leisure, and social spaces for nearby office workers and residents.

Nightlife & Entertainment During its trial period, the street hosted live bands, stand-up comedy, crosstalk, and intangible cultural heritage showcases, with operators planning to build a "Midnight Diner" block and a "Night Beijing" landmark.

Travel Recommendation While not a primary destination for short-term first-time visitors compared to icons like the Forbidden City, it serves as an ideal evening add-on and local hangout for repeat visitors or those staying near the CBD or Sanlitun.

Frequently Asked Questions

Tonghui Town, Beijing

Q1What is Tonghui Town, and when did it reopen? Tonghui Town is a European-style precinct of 16 freestanding buildings located beside Beijing's Central Business District along the Tonghui River. Completed in 2009 and mostly dormant for over a decade, it officially reopened on 29 October 2026 as Laihui Club Commercial Street.

Q2What is the size of the precinct, and what shops are open? The precinct spans over 11,000 square metres and launched with nearly 30 stores and venues offering dining, art events, leisure, and social spaces.

Q3What late-night activities and entertainment are available? Businesses operate with extended opening hours. Trial events included live band performances, stand-up comedy, traditional Chinese crosstalk, and intangible cultural heritage showcases. The operators also plan to develop a "Midnight Diner" block and establish it as a "Night Beijing" landmark.

Q4Is Tonghui Town recommended for first-time visitors to Beijing? For first-time travelers with limited time, traditional landmarks like the Forbidden City or the Great Wall remain top priority. However, for repeat visitors or those staying near the CBD or Sanlitun, it serves as a unique evening stop blending European-style architecture with local nightlife.

A Fairytale Block Next to the Skyscrapers

Gabled houses and clock tower, Laihui Club Street

Beijing's Central Business District is known for glass towers, not gabled roofs. Yet right beside it, on the Tonghui River, sits Tonghui Town, a European-style precinct of 16 freestanding buildings with pointed roofs, arched windows and colourful wall paintings. It was completed in 2009, sat largely dormant for more than a decade, and on 29 October 2026 reopened under a new name: Laihui Club Commercial Street.

The Basics

Size: more than 11,000 square metres.
Shops and venues: nearly 30 stores at reopening.
Concept: a mixed-use hub for dining, art events, leisure and social activities, aimed mainly at nearby residents and office workers.
Hours: the street lets its businesses run extended opening hours, and evening service hours were extended during a trial period.

What Went On During the Trial

During the trial period, the street hosted live band performances, stand-up comedy, crosstalk (traditional Chinese comic dialogue) and intangible cultural heritage showcases. The horse-carriage sculptures have become a popular photo spot. If you want to see how locals relax after work, this is the kind of evening programme that is hard to find in the tourist zones.

The Late-Night Plan

Car-themed Cool Park complex near Tonghui Town

The operators say they plan to speed up a "Midnight Diner" block and to develop a "Night Beijing" landmark. They also plan to partner with nearby Happy Valley amusement park and Cool Park (酷车小镇). This fits a wider trend of Beijing building evening economy districts rather than leaving nightlife to a few famous strips.

Is It Worth a Detour?

For a first-time visitor with only a few days, probably not ahead of the Forbidden City or the Great Wall. For a repeat visitor, or anyone staying near the CBD or Sanlitun, it is an easy evening add-on and a different texture from the hutongs: a faux-European backdrop with Chinese comedy, music and snacks. Go in the evening, and dress warmly, since Beijing's heating season starts on 15 November and nights are already cold.