Oasis for drinkers

You could be forgiven for being surprised when stepping into XIU ( 秀), the newly opened roof top garden bar on the sixth floor of the Beijing Yintai Center.

It is rare to see such an ancient Chinese-style wooden pavilion, with such a large alfresco area, in the busiest part of Beijing, surrounding some of Beijing's most modern skyscrapers. Water, fish and bamboo add a more natural feel to this establishment.

The designers of XIU have made it a place suitable for different age groups, in different moods - be it a boisterous get-together, or a quiet drink and conversation. Besides two big open-air spaces with cool rattan chairs and soft cushions, there is a cigar bar, a main bar, a wine bar, a vodka bar and a whisky bar, each decorated in different styles, each big enough to match the size of an independent bar elsewhere.