China’s “prison bar” trend is sweeping nightlife scenes across cities like Qingdao (Shandong), Hangzhou (Zhejiang), and Chongqing. Drawing inspiration from Netflix’s Orange is the New Black, these themed venues offer an immersive experience where patrons spend an evening behind bars.
Guests don orange prison jumpsuits, pose for mugshots, and sign mock confessions before being led to individual cells. The bars are designed to resemble real jails, complete with steel bars, graffiti-covered walls, and vintage newspapers.
For added realism, some locations include a dimly lit “interrogation room” stocked with props like handcuffs, shackles, and batons. Staff dressed as guards enforce “jail rules,” such as no damaging property.
A night out includes drinks—cocktails, sodas, or coffee—for around 50 yuan (US1.4) to rent the orange uniform. Each visitor also receives a “criminal file” outlining their fake charges.
Social media users praise the novelty. “The lighting and set design are amazing for photos. I’ve already told my friends to check it out,” said one. Another noted, “Even on a weeknight at 10 p.m., there was a 20-minute wait. It was packed.”
However, the trend has sparked debate. Critics say turning prisons into entertainment risks trivializing the justice system and may offend victims’ families.
