Jian Guo Lu
Bit of a nightmare to find. Head North up Jian Guo Lu. Pass the Ming Tien Cafe and turn left into the first alleyway. Take the first right leading into another alleyway. At the end of this alley there should be some external steps leading up to the second floor of a block of buildings. Go up these and you will find an internal stairway. It's on the third floor.
Telephone: 0917 3229698
A large, often empty snooker club with excellent quality tables. Features pictures of the author, Peter McGrath VSO and Peter Bollen MSF, surely a high point of any visit here. It is cheap too, about 15 RNB for a table. You never have to wait either. The bar stocks most local alcohol varieties. Also has ping-pong if that floats your boat.
Kai Fa Qu Huo Ju Lu
Telephone: 0917 331 3866/8088
Features a pretty good multi gym and swimming pool. As it is normally deserted you can stick on your own CDs and watch the staff experiment with the weights in what seems to be a competition as to who can do the most dangerous, damaging and stupidest excercises. A dip in the pool is a great way to pick up some nasty germs, but there's not much alternative. Pricey though. A one off visit will set you back 30 RNB, a monthly pass is 200 RNB. Also has a western restaurant which does very bad, expensive food - though the cheesy ricy hot pot thing isn't bad and they do have a big TV with a foreign (French) music channel. The bar attached to the western restaurant also has a large variety of spirits, possible the best in Baoji.
Gong Yuan Lu
One of Baoji's two parks and not entirely bad. There is a boating lake, where you can hire pedolos. This also has a small island in the middle with a karaoke bar in the middle; you get to this via a terryifing chair-lift mechanism. The down side is the zoo however. The animals are all in very bad condition and kept in tiny cages with absolutely nothing to do. And if they animals don't upset you then the behaviour of the people will: The tiger isn't active enough for your liking? Throw something at it then, always good for a laugh. If you have non-asiatic features don't go on the weekends as you will become part of the attractions. Visit on a week-day when it is a lot calmer.
