Rock with Mao

Mao Livehouse's owner Li Chi says the bar's name comes from his hunch that "Chairman Mao Zedong was really rock 'n' roll."

Since opening in January 2007, the popular nightspot has become a steppingstone for China's underground acts. Compared to their Western counterparts, the local rockers who grace Mao's stage must struggle harder to be heard over the mainstream chorus of pop, electronic and hip-hop that dominate the country's music scene.

Among the capital's rock spots, Mao features the grandest stage, most ear-splitting sound system and flashiest lighting rig. It features about 80 percent local bands, according to Li.