With Beijing's notoriously long summer, what could be better than enjoying a live gig via the electro-voice audio speakers in the restaurant's outdoor dining area, over a pint of craft beer?

Wang believes that music can connect with people spiritually - and so should a good meal. Having just celebrated its first birthday, BBQueen is already looking forward to its second, 10th and 50th birthdays.

Wang also sees the possibility of a blues festival centered around BBQueen in the near future, just like how East Shore pushed forward the jazz scene in Beijing.

As renowned Chinese music critic Ma Shih-fang once commented, "A world-class venue may shape a city's music scene, just like how streams gather to shape a river."

Now, in Wang's mind, BBQueen is a music venue devoted to shaping that river.