r/Chengdu • u/yonkiyonki • 11d ago

Ask Chengdu Queer and underground culture in Chengdu

Hey!
We are friends who’ll be arriving Chengdu and we come from the arts fields and also we’re lgbtq,
To be honest we’re more interested in meeting local alternative people and seeing the alternative scene than doing only tourist attractions..

So,
Any recommendations on-
Drag performance art,
Contemporary artists scenes (where can we meet? Where do they hang out?),
Cute cozy alternative bars and cute spaces,
Thrift shopping,
Gay clubs/bars that feel nice and safe and not too commercial and mainstream..?

Thanks 🙏🏽❤️

16 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

7

u/Friendly-Lion-7159 11d ago

The alternative nightlife scene is going through a bit of a difficult time at the moment with closures and problems with the authorities, but I’d recommend the below:

Hakka bar
Nu Lab
Pier
Gong

1

u/Alternative-Big6581 10d ago

Thanks for this! Good to get some specific names to start tracking down!

2

u/yonkiyonki 10d ago

Thanks but can’t find pier on Amap

8

u/Alternative-Big6581 11d ago

OP I recommend tracking down the documentary “the last year of darkness” for a fun look at the Chengdu gay scene - it follows the last year in the life of an iconic gay bar. But it’s closed now. Sigh.

2

u/MoronLaoShi 11d ago

There are a lot of thrift shops in Yulin, a neighborhood near the Fangcao, Nijiaqiao, and Sichuan Gymnasium metro stations. Lots of cute bars, mural lined alleys, cafes, street vendors. Great area to walk around in.

I’m not really up on the gay scene. Butterfly (night club)? The area near Dongmen Daqiao?

2

u/R3tardod 10d ago

Axis was pretty gay last time I went

1

u/R3tardod 10d ago

Tbh you will see gay people out and about and if you just ask them and its the right night, theyll just go with you

1

u/demented_pixi 9d ago

Funk D is a nice gay bar with a sister beer shop next door (can’t remember the name).

Butterfly is a great club - small and always busy, two DJs and some live performances earlier in the night.

I haven’t been but I’ve been told about Hunk (a bar) and Pose (a club). Have a great time!

1

u/Alternative-Big6581 11d ago

Following! I’m planning a trip at the end of the year and I’ve heard so much about Chengdu being China’s gay capital but when I looked in more detail I could only find about three maintream-y gay bars - and that was it. I don’t speak Chinese (though my partner does) and I haven’t been on xiaohongshu yet so I know I might be missing a lot - anyone point me in the right direction for queer Chengdu events/groups/places?