One of my American friends has starting working at 88 club, one of the most popular clubs in Hangzhou. Eight or so foreigners work there. They all get free alcohol and are paid to dance and mingle. The patrons are generally young Chinese people, many of which are in Hangzhou on vacation and heard about the club because it’s a big chain (over 30 in China.)

The inside of 88 looks like a fancy saloon, and has tons of gaudy looking chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. Like most clubs in China, entrance is free but people are “strongly encouraged” to buy a table, the cost of which includes a certain amount of alcohol. Some of the high roller tables cost a minimum of 10,000 RMB (US$ 1500).

It’s a cool place to party because the atmosphere builds as the night progresses. Everyone drinks hard until about midnight and then the place goes nuts. Some people pile on to the stage in the middle to dance, while others latch on to each other to form long trains that weave through the crowd. The club flips on a bunch of flashing lights, light sticks get passed out, and in between songs they put on live ramp performances.

The 88 club in Hangzhou has a particularly infamous reputation. A few months ago some local university students were killed there during a brawl with security guards. Apparently the students made some lewd comments and for whatever crazy reason the guards stomped a few of them to death. Violent crime is very uncommon in China, so the news shocked the community when it first came out. The club reopened recently, however, and the violent event certainly hasn’t hurt business. Even on a Monday or Tues night the place is packed.

I’m amazed my friend found this kind of job in the first place. When she first showed up at my house with 4 suitcases packed with party clothes I laughed, but now she’s actually using all that stuff.