(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-04-14 07:42

The only boat club in Beijing was set to slip its proverbial moorings with an opening party last Friday night, putting some of the capital city's biggest name DJs behind the decks.

Micky Zhang, DMC champion Wordy, Patrick Yu, Elvis T, DJ Jaum3 and Tomato were called in to spin the night away; while a roster of rock bands is lined up for future events.

Throw business lunches, afternoon teas, evening meals and promotional events into the mix and you have a potent scene brewing on Liangmahe River, not far from the bright lights of Sanlitun.

The investors behind this nautical venture are Taiwan's DJ @llen and Djane BB, alongside Beijing's food and beverage master Sam Geliang. They have transformed the former floating Italian restaurant into a mixed-use development that has a Taipei-type lounge-bar vibe.

On the upper deck, or Aqua Lounge, there is a stage for live shows and bands like Bad Apples and Xanadu have been booked. The best place to sit is in the lifeboats, overlooking the river.

Below deck there's a bar and dance floor called the Boogie Room with a decent sound system and a neat little space in the hull, which is where the VIP action will be taking place.

Above deck there's plenty of room to wander around and enjoy some cool breezes on a summer's night, when The Boat should be at its busiest.

For @llen "the music matters most" and he likes the idea of dancing while being able to peer out the portholes and see the river. For Geliang, service, good food and drink are the main points. Together they appear to be on course to make a success of the place.

As for the Stone Boat Bar in Ritan Park, which has a previous claim on the only boat bar in Beijing title, detractors say it's more like a temple on a lake. Check The Boat and see for yourself, which is the real deal.

Text by Jules Quartly, photo courtesy of The Boat

The Boat is open every day, 11 am till late.

It's located at 8, Liangmahe South Road (west of Sanlitun North Street), Beijing.
See www.myspace.com/theboatbeijing for details of upcoming events, or contact theboatbeijing@gmail.com

(China Daily 04/12/2008 page6)