Understanding the date in China can take a while to sink in. For example, at certain times of the year you'll see thousands of posters announcing 'numbers', one of which is '10 1'. What the hell is '10 1', you'll be thinking.

Shi Yi 十一 aka '10 1' is the Chinese National Day and it refers to October the First.

This bar's name, in Harbin, Heilongjiang is Called 'Hit Bar Since 1098'.




This must be the world's oldest bar! The year 1098!

I spoke to the owner and explained the humour. Of course, the bar first opened in October, 1998. It's changed a lot since then. It looks almost dangerous from the outside but don't be fooled. It's a favourite haunt of the foreign teachers that live and work in Harbin. Also, if you're looking for great, cheap accommodation then travel no further than 250m up the street and on the opposite side of the road is a very comfortable place to crash. Cheap as chips.