The Snake Pit

		The Snake Pit is almost certainly the longest established expatriate bar in China, formed even before laws existed to support such a thing. Shekou some 20 plus years ago was just a small fishing village but the surrounding South China See had lots to offer, OIL. The birth of the Snake Pit was due to China's first Joint Ventures with multi-national oil drilling and rig service companies, which were from as far away as Texas, Scotland and Scandinavia, they sent their most hardened, tough, weather beaten engineers over to start drilling in the South China Sea. A dangerous job out there offshore on the rigs, not forgetting the typhoon season adding extra danger, but once back onshore with nowhere to go at night those guys back then would raid the only noodle stand in town, smoke all the cigarettes drink all the beer and eventually fall over drunk in the gutter. Naturally after several unsightly episodes of what for too many was a normal night out in their home town, the local police, China Merchants (the land owner of much of the area), the oil companies themselves and even CNOOC (China National Offshore Oil Corp, headquartered in Beijing) admitted something had to be done. Thus the South China's legendary Snake Pit, was born. Founded in March 1987 where what was known as Bar Street, then originally a home from home for exclusive use by expatriate oilmen working in the South China Sea. One of the founding members; "Steal" George was renowned for his antics - he would remove his glass eye and put it on the bar and say "watch my beer while I’m away" as he went to the bathroom. Once he served up dog food as pate. The Pit is always full of colorful characters. There weren't many rules to be in the Pit - firstly - members only, more recently no answering mobile phones and if you fell foul of this particular rule the bell would be rung and the offender would have to pay for a round of drinks for all in the bar and last of all no ties to be worn, if caught the tie would be cut off by the barmaid and hung over the bar and those ties can still be seen today. Times have changed and the Snake Pit has now moved to a location right in the center of Shekou, which is more convenient for it's members and has also become known as The Shekou Sports and Social Club which is now more family orientated and is the home to the Shekou Hash House Harriers, Snake Pit Sitting Hash, Shekou Rugby, Shekou Volley Ball and Shekou American Flag Football. The Club also raises donations from charity events to help local orphanages, schools and hospitals. It is now from those wild beginnings from those most hardened, tough, weather beaten engineers and their wild ways The Snake Pit has become a pillar of the local community having a membership of over 4500 from 52 different countries. So next time your in Shekou cone and look us up at our new location. The club is currently situated in Shekou, at G16, Taizi Square 2nd floor - behind Pizza Hut, above the Red Lantern.

The Snake Pit is almost certainly the longest established expatriate bar in China, formed even before laws existed to support such a thing. Shekou some 20 plus years ago was just a small fishing village but the surrounding South China See had lots to offer, OIL.
The birth of the Snake Pit was due to China's first Joint Ventures with multi-national oil drilling and rig service companies, which were from as far away as Texas, Scotland and Scandinavia, they sent their most hardened, tough, weather beaten engineers over to start drilling in the South China Sea.
A dangerous job out there offshore on the rigs, not forgetting the typhoon season adding extra danger, but once back onshore with nowhere to go at night those guys back then would raid the only noodle stand in town, smoke all the cigarettes drink all the beer and eventually fall over drunk in the gutter. Naturally after several unsightly episodes of what for too many was a normal night out in their home town, the local police, China Merchants (the land owner of much of the area), the oil companies themselves and even CNOOC (China National Offshore Oil Corp, headquartered in Beijing) admitted something had to be done.
Thus the South China's legendary Snake Pit, was born. Founded in March 1987 where what was known as Bar Street, then originally a home from home for exclusive use by expatriate oilmen working in the South China Sea. One of the founding members; "Steal" George was renowned for his antics - he would remove his glass eye and put it on the bar and say "watch my beer while I’m away" as he went to the bathroom. Once he served up dog food as pate. The Pit is always full of colorful characters.
There weren't many rules to be in the Pit - firstly - members only, more recently no answering mobile phones and if you fell foul of this particular rule the bell would be rung and the offender would have to pay for a round of drinks for all in the bar and last of all no ties to be worn, if caught the tie would be cut off by the barmaid and hung over the bar and those ties can still be seen today.

Times have changed and the Snake Pit has now moved to a location right in the center of Shekou, which is more convenient for it's members and has also become known as The Shekou Sports and Social Club which is now more family orientated and is the home to the Shekou Hash House Harriers, Snake Pit Sitting Hash, Shekou Rugby, Shekou Volley Ball and Shekou American Flag Football. The Club also raises donations from charity events to help local orphanages, schools and hospitals. It is now from those wild beginnings from those most hardened, tough, weather beaten engineers and their wild ways The Snake Pit has become a pillar of the local community having a membership of over 4500 from 52 different countries.

So next time your in Shekou cone and look us up at our new location. The club is currently situated in Shekou, at G16, Taizi Square 2nd floor - behind Pizza Hut, above the Red Lantern.

The Snake Pit is located at G16, Taizi Square, Shekou, Shenzhen, Peoples Republic of China