The dual-level bar counter, Braille floor plan on the wall and sign language board collectively define the compact pub hidden in Shanghai's Changning District—a space created for people including those with disabilities.

Beneath the white-and-orange striped awning, a vibrant yellow plaque on the wall at its entrance declares its name: "Pub HandyCup." Measuring less than 30 square meters, the venue has become a nighttime sanctuary where patrons gather. Patrons fondly call it an "accessibility utopia."

When founder Xia Yujie first opened the pub on May 20 last year, few could have anticipated how his vision for an inclusive place would blossom. Now celebrating its first anniversary, the pub stands as a model of inclusive urban spaces—proving that disability-friendly design can thrive.

Beers as bridge

Xia himself has a disability. In middle school, a medical accident left his left hand atrophied and functionally impaired. After enduring initial pain and confusion, he immersed himself in accessibility

advocacy. He later studied law at China University of Political Science and Law and pursued further education in the United States. During his time abroad, regular gatherings at corner pubs with classmates became cherished moments of relaxation. Yet, he noticed a striking absence of peers with disabilities in these spaces—a realization that later prompted him to create an accessible place for them in China.

Approximately 85 million people in China live with disabilities, equating to one in every 16 individuals, according to China's Ministry of Civil Affairs. Despite the significant portion, people with disabilities remain rarely visible in daily public life. In major cities like Beijing and Shanghai, some daytime cafés for disabled communities exist. Yet for Xia, nighttime leisure deserves equal attention. "Where can they unwind with a drink at night?" As an answer to this question, he established an inclusive, barrier-free social hub.

As Xia scouted locations for his pub, Fu Ming, a wheelchair user in Shanghai's Xinhua community, was discussing unmet needs with fellow disability advocates over dinner. "We crave casual nights out too," Fu remarked, "but most bars are inaccessible, and some families even stigmatize such venues." Months later, Fu's neighborhood welcomed HandyCup.

Nestled in Xinhua—a model community renowned for its cultural liveliness and boutique shops—the pub occupied a ground-floor raw space ripe for transformation. Nearby is the Shanghai Big Fish Community Building Development Center, a pioneer in urban placemaking. Throughout the design process, Xia incorporated feedback from different disability groups, refining details like ramp gradients and counter heights.

At the opening party, Fu did not know how deeply his life would intertwine with this space. Living in the community, he frequents the pub, and his charisma has earned him friends of all abilities. When Xia did not have time to come to the pub, he entrusted Fu with a key—a gesture that gradually earned Fu the unofficial title of "manager."

Here, Fu mastered pouring craft beers and mulling wine, while the pub's low-alcohol brews and alcohol-free options became its signature. "Like the interplay of yeast, malt and hops, true richness in life comes from blending with diverse people," Xia told Shanghai-based news portal ThePaper.cn.

Beyond drinks, HandyCup cultivates something rarer: unfiltered human connection. "What people seek isn't intoxication," Xia observed, "but the courage to embrace difference."

A key to inclusion

Since its opening, the pub has organized multiple initiatives for local residents and community partners including sign language workshops, solo exhibitions by hearing-impaired photographers and mixology activities led by visually impaired individuals. These programs empower participants to co-create events tailored to the space by contributing their unique skills and ideas.

When Feifei (pseudonym), a Deaf woman, first visited HandyCup, she encountered artists who instinctively switched to gestural communication upon realizing she used sign language. "Their willingness to meet me halfway made me feel truly welcome," she told ThePaper.cn through a sign language interpreter.

As a native sign language user working in cultural advocacy, Feifei often navigates interactions via text apps, but during a past bar meeting, the speech-to-text software failed spectacularly because of background noise. At HandyCup, even when patrons don't know formal sign language, their creative gesturing and patient texting are helpful.

Last June, Feifei proposed sign language workshops to Xia and soon found herself leading sessions together with interpreters, teaching people basic signs and telling them about different aspects of hearing-impaired culture. During one event, Maomao (pseudonym), a visually impaired patron, arrived but couldn't participate. This sparked Feifei's determination to bridge sensory divides.

Months later, she co-hosted a groundbreaking sign language adaptation of Werewolf—a social deduction game in which players try to identify and eliminate the "werewolf" among them. A linguistics graduate provided real-time tactile interpretation for Maomao: guiding his hands through signs during instruction, whispering gameplay updates and decoding visual cues like smirks or nervous glances. "With more signing practice, I can engage even deeper," Maomao reflected afterward.

Prior to that, Maomao had already launched his own initiatives. After etching Braille labels onto beer taps and countertops, he nervously conducted his first Braille workshop.

Later, Maomao continued organizing several Braille education sessions, ranging from introducing the characteristics of Chinese and English Braille systems to teaching Chinese Braille spelling. He shared his most profound experiences as a blind person, helping more people understand the group. During these activities, he guided participants to wear blindfolds and experience pouring beer in darkness at the pub, while also sharing stories from his personal growth journey.

It is in this pub that Maomao discovered disabled communities can lead vibrant lives—organizing events, contributing to community publications and recording podcasts.

This 30-year-old from Shanxi Province once worked in a massage parlor—a common occupation for many visually impaired individuals in China. When he first encountered the concept of accessibility, he equated it simply with social integration. Two years ago, he moved to Shanghai seeking opportunities beyond massage therapy, believing true accessibility meant joining broader communities.

At HandyCup, his understanding deepened: "Accessibility lies in details—like Braille floor plan or bar counters designed for both seated and standing conversations," he said.

Copyedited by Elsbeth van Paridon

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