An event at an academic bar named “Kongge Jiutan” in Beijing Photo: Sun Meijuan/CSST

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Recently, “academic bars” have quietly gone viral as a cultural phenomenon online. As the concept spreads beyond its original circle, public opinion on the internet presents mixed voices of curiosity, praise, questioning, and criticism. But what exactly are “academic bars?” Why are they particularly favored by young people? And how sustainable is this trend?

New cultural phenomenon

As a city with a long-standing bar culture, it is unsurprising that Shanghai was the first to embrace the concept of the “academic bar.” “In the cultural spaces open to the public in Shanghai, lectures on social sciences are relatively rare, and many interesting and valuable topics have not been widely disseminated,” explained Bai Bing (pseudonym), manager of the Bunker bar in Shanghai. Since its opening, Bai has aspired to create a space that is open and inclusive, one that preserves cultural diversity and creativity while promoting public value. In May 2024, the bar began hosting academic lectures, which quickly became far more popular than expected, despite the venue’s limited space.

According to the “2023 Resident Cultural Development Satisfaction Survey” conducted by the Institute of Sociology at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), residents are generally satisfied with the physical infrastructure of public cultural facilities but feel that specialized cultural venues and activities that cater to higher-level spiritual and cultural needs remain scarce. Zhu Di, a research fellow at the institute, believes the emergence of academic bars is a response to this unmet demand, reflecting the public’s thirst for knowledge and a growing desire for culturally enriching leisure activities.

The concept has also made its way to Beijing with the launch of “Kongge Jiutan,” the city’s first academic bar. Currently, there are three or four similar establishments in the region. When asked why he chose a bar as the venue for academic sharing events, Zhang Jianing, founder of Kongge Jiutan, explained: “In fact, hosting academic bar events stems from our own interest. Most of our team members are postgraduate and doctoral students born after 1995. We long for our ideas and research results to have the opportunity to be shared with more people and recognized. Therefore, after completing courses or participating in university reading groups, we often feel that we haven’t had enough, so we organize in-depth discussions at nearby bars, which aligns perfectly with the academic bar concept.”

Since June 2024, Kongge Jiutan has successfully hosted over 20 events, covering a wide range of topics including philosophy, literature, anthropology, and communication studies. Among the speakers was Zhao Xudong, a professor from the School of Social Research at Renmin University of China, who was invited to give a lecture. Zhao described the format as novel and engaging, noting that accepting such an invitation represented a fresh approach to disseminating academic ideas.

Facilitating equal dialogue

The trend of academic bars has reached Guangzhou, where this low-key, pragmatic, and inclusive city has imbued the concept with its own unique character. In August 2024, Nong Woda, a philosophy graduate from South China Normal University, founded the Klein Homebar in Guangzhou, which is regarded as one of the city’s earliest academic bars. Compared to their counterparts in Beijing and Shanghai, academic bars in Guangzhou emphasize “light academics.” Nong often encourages speakers to share intriguing knowledge closely tied to everyday life, making it accessible and rewarding for the audience.

On a weekend in November 2024, Wei Qi, a student from South China Agricultural University, attended an academic bar event in Guangzhou for the first time. Reflecting on his experience, he said, “Overall, it was a great experience because the academic bar provides a relaxed and free environment without restrictions like academic credentials or research experience. I can choose topics based on my interests, so every time I attend an event, I have the opportunity to engage with like-minded people within a lively and engaging atmosphere.”

“The relaxing atmosphere of bars removes the seriousness typically associated with academic lectures,” said Zhang Danyang, an assistant research fellow from the Institute of Literature at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences. Academic bars are typically interest-driven, attracting young people eager to explore specific topics. This format represents active rather than passive learning. Without requiring extensive prior preparation, it facilitates simple yet effective idea exchanges, which enhances its appeal.

While many compare academic bars to academic conferences, their objectives are fundamentally different. According to Lu Ziqi, an assistant professor from the School of Economics at Ji’nan University in Guangzhou, academic conferences generally cater to specialized scholars, focusing on methodology, application, and rigorous academic discussions. In contrast, academic bars aim to reach people from diverse fields and professions, emphasizing the dissemination of general knowledge and linking abstract concepts to everyday life.

Ways forward

When selecting topics, Zhang Jianing aims to make them both engaging and relevant to everyday life. Before each event, his team engages in thorough discussions with the guest speakers. After hosting more than 10 sessions, Zhang’s Kongge Jiutan has attracted coverage from several mainstream media outlets and gained wider recognition. “Currently, our resources have been significantly enhanced, and we hope to find a suitable operational model to help us go further.”

Discussing the challenges of organizing academic bar events, Bai Bing pointed out that if the goal is to disseminate academic knowledge to the public and create an informal space for discussion, it is essential to build a team with robust capabilities in academic outreach, editing, and content review. As a result, sustainable commercial operations become critical.

Zhu Di believes that academics can integrate not only with bars, bookstores, and cafes but also with other cultural and leisure venues. This “academics-plus” model enriches residents’ cultural and leisure options while promoting face-to-face interactions, fostering greater engagement with local communities and those around them.

Hu Zhengrong, director of the Institute of Journalism and Communication Studies at CASS, suggested that if academic bars can sustain their operations, they may emerge as a novel channel and method for knowledge creation and exchange. The cross-disciplinary, cross-stratum, and cross-circle discussions fostered in such spaces could provide unique inspiration to both speakers and participants.

Edited by YANG LANLAN