Base Bar is a popular rock and roll bar in Shenzhen that primarily draws in bands from Beijing and Southern China. There are now a total of three Base Bar branches. The first bar opened on Shangbu Nanlu in 2000 and newer editions include the Nanshan and Binhai branches. The godfather of Chinese rock, Cui Jian has described this bar as being "the most avant-garde, unconventional" rock venue. Not only does Base Bar aim to support local bands, but they were also the masterminds behind Shenzhen's first rock festival and have organised several other large scale rock events and cultural exchanges since.