Ask locals where to go out in Shanghai, and they’ll tell you the night usually ends at INS Land, an adult playground housing 20 venues including nine clubs with DJ sets and live stage shows, as well as occasional drop-ins from celebrities such as NBA star James Harden and K-pop idol Jackson Wang. There’s also a shisha lounge and an app that facilitates on-the-spot Tinder-style matchmaking.
Nightlife in China has traditionally revolved around male-dominated status-flexing with expensive bottle service and VIP booths where patrons play drinking games to break the ice. INS — which stands for “Into Nothing Serious” — upended that paradigm with a 288-yuan (around $43) daily pass that grants entry to every club under its roof, creating a more inclusive scene for a cohort seeking budget-conscious fun during an economic downturn.
There’s no bouncer at the complex’s entrance.Photographer: Nico de Rouge for Bloomberg Businessweek
