Singing Karaoke
China Travel Blog
If you travel to Beijing, one of the local pastimes that you absolutely have to take part in is karaoke. Karaoke is a very popular way to spend an evening here in China and due to its popularity, there are many locations where you can take part in singing karaoke. You have the option to either sing in front of a large group or in a small room with a group of friends. Either way, you are guaranteed a fabulous time. In the United States, karaoke is not nearly as popular so in order to have a unique karaoke experience that would be impossible to have anywhere else, travel to Beijing!
The karaoke here is an experience like none other. In terms of the atmosphere, it is easily comparable to an upscale theater. I say this because once you walk in and after you determine which beverage you will be drinking while singing your heart out, you can see hallways of rooms with doors closed, but once inside the room it’s as if you are in your own private movie theater with a large screen in the front of the room and a couch and tables facing the screen. Then someone will bring you your beverage of choice along with some other snacks. The karaoke bar that I went to served us watermelon, popcorn, and soft drinks. After getting settled, we let the singing begin!
From Brittany Spears to Michael Jackson, our group thoroughly enjoyed every song that came up on screen. It was a lot more fun to sing the older songs that were played, so if I were to make any sort of recommendation, it would be to have some good oldies in mind before heading out! However, it’s not about the songs you sing that make karaoke a good time; it’s about the people you are with. By the end of the night, you are undoubtedly going to have made new friends due to this unique experience. Although I personally am not a star singer, neither were the majority of people in our group, which was half the fun, so even if you are a little bit more reserved, karaoke can still be a positive experience. It was immediately apparent to me why people in China love to go sing karaoke; it creates friendships and is simultaneously a great time.
Despite my inability to sing, my vocal cords were more than worn out after my first real Chinese Karaoke experience, one that I could only experience due to my travel to Beijing. After leaving the Karaoke place, I immediately wished that the United States had something similar. I was fortunate enough to experience karaoke on my first evening in Beijing and because of that first night, I have great new friends that I otherwise may not have met had I let my fear of singing in front of people hold me back. If you find yourself in China with a free evening, I definitely recommend gathering a group and taking part in the karaoke scene.
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