This Beijing live music pioneer moved to a new location in 2007 and is still finding its feet as a two-level bar/music venue. The upstairs chill area attracts a mixed crowd of music fans and hard-core drinkers. Downstairs a program of live music, movies and other attractions is still in the works for 2008.
I believe that YGYS has its flaws bu that it is infinitely better than MAO Livehouse. That place has the worse ventilation of any smaller venue I've ever been to. Also, YGYS's upstairs area is pretty good for hanging out I think. Sound is on par with any other small venue in the city. Drinks are way overpriced, so I usually head across the street in between acts to grab something at the convenience store and then come back in.
Probably the best thing about YGYS is that it manages to book more acts I'm interested in seeing than pretty much any other venue in the city (2kolegas comes in a close second).
Yugong Yishan definitely get in some of the biggest and best international acts. However, I only go there when there's an act that I really, really want to see, otherwise I don't bother. The reasons for this are as follows: entrance fee too pricey, gets too crowded and poor ventilation, expensive drinks, lack of a "hang-out" atmosphere, the sound is not always good, no interaction or personal customer service with the owners or staff.