Beer hoi in China?????

Cheap beer? China? You bet. There is the common or garden variety Qingdao in a white can at about 50 Australian cents. Of course you can go to upmarket hotels and restaurants and get ripped off if you want to but why would you? Whatever city you go to in China, always try to local brew. Often it will taste something like I imagine cats pi$$ to taste like, but you will be pleasantly surprised on occasions. Suzhou's Tai Hu Shiu (literally, water of Lake Tai) was really good and, although I've never tried it, Hapi from Harbin, way up in the north east, is said to be really good.

Gan bei.

Nothing like the Bia Hoi places in China. Beer is cheap though as #1 says, I consider Qing Dao to be the best, at a slightly higher price than local brews. Personally, I always get the big bottles.

local eateries charge RMB3-5. but i've paid a tenner each even there. it depends on several things. after all the ice cold beers [and a brilliant smoking ban] in HK i'm frustrated with warm beers ever since entering China. indeed, as #1 says, do try local brews. i drink [local] cats pi$$/sock water with a meal every time, and Chinese wine [not the disgusting rice booze Chinese men prefer] every night as well. however it's tricky to guess if the bottle you're picking up today is drinkable. also, it's hard to find something after 2001 or risk drinking vinegar. these days in Yunnan i've been drinking 3.3% Lancangjiang which lists rice as one of the ingredients.

must agree the Bia Hoi in VN is delightful and cheap! i could guzzle 2 litres in no time :)

cheers

-----
2007.03.01 AMS-LHR-HKG-MFM-[pass through Zhuhai] -Zhaoqing-[pass through Wuzhou] -Yangshuo-[pass through Guilin] -Longsheng-[side trip Ping An to see terraces] -Sanjiang-Zhaoxing [incredible terraces!]-Diping- [pass through Zhaoxing again] - [pass through Liping] -Rongjiang-Kaili-Guiyang- (train to) Kunming- [side trip to Shilin to see Stone Forest] -Gejiu- [pass through Nansha] -Yuanyang [spectacular terraces OMG!] - [pass through Nansha again] - [pass through Jianshui] - Shiping- [pass through Yuanjiang] - [pass through Mojiang] -Simao-Jinghong....current location 2007.03.31

Don't remember Beer Hoi or similar in China. But bottled beer are cheap and good and every province seem to have their own favourite brand.
At eating places beer cost between 5 to 8RMB. You can get similar bottles for as low as 3.5RMB at supermarkets and corner shops.

Trying all the local beers is for me actually one of the more enjoyable aspects of travelling in China. They are usually named after some local feature, so they bring a bit of character to dinner times.

You can get Bia Hoi style drinking in Qingdao in the summer, where plenty of small eateries are supplied barrels direct from the brewery and you can drink fresh beer on tap for nothing or take it away in plastic bags!

Hey Muitas_Saudades I live in Jinghong, if you're about give me a call, 13988 100 505.

Beer is usually 3 RMB for a big bottle at normal "everyday" shops. I've seen some in smaller places for 1-2 RMB as well, but those might not taste very good.
Cheers!

Yang Jing or Qingdao can be bought from a store for Y1.8 (includes 0.5 as deposit). In summer late April through to September there are loads of restaurants in BJ which have draft beer for around 3-4Y per half-litre. Depending on the area, lots of these places have outside seating. There are also night markets (getting wiped out in BJ though) which offer a very cheap and cheerful experience in summer.