The best things to do this week
Your forecast of the week's best events
Congratulations Beijing, you've officially made it through Christmas unscathed! Don't get too relaxed though, next Monday we're ringing in 2018 with another round of raucous holiday parties. Keep an eye out for our guide of all the New Year's Eve parties going down this weekend, but until then, there's still plenty to entertain you that doesn't involve getting absolutely hammered.
TUESDAY
Cirque du Soleil: Kooza
Chaoyang Park. Dec 16-Jan 28. 380-1,980RMB
A return to Cirque du Soleil's origins, Kooza combines acrobatic performance with the art of clowning, while exploring fear, identity, recognition and power. Written and directed by David Shiner, a former Cirque du Soleil clown, Kooza is an enthralling circus spectacle featuring jaw-dropping feats and theatrical ingenuity.
WEDNESDAY
Kids' Winter Accessories Camp
The SLab's latest winter camp offers an opportunity for students to design and experiment with making accessories and jewellery. Using a variety of different materials from recyclable, natural, and man-made pieces, participants can learn numerous techniques, from crocheting to silversmithing. No two classes are the same, and projects are student-led.
THURSDAY
Lu1: Nomad Studio Session
Lu1 brings a new breed of hip-hop that combines nu-jazz hip-hop beats with creative Chinese lyrics. Actively collaborating with various international artists, from China and Taiwan, to Brazil and London, Lu1's distinctive flow and rhyming style are attributes that set him apart from other artists in the underground Mandarin hip-hop scene.
FRIDAY
Kevin Harris Project
Kevin Harris is a New York-based jazz pianist who plays a distinctive combination of swing, black gospel and afro-latin music. With influences as diverse as Thelonious Monk and Charlie Parker, to JS Bach and Scott Joplin, plus the folkloric rhythms of Cuba, Harris' style falls at the intersection between traditional and contemporary music.
SATURDAY
Jersey Boys
Winner of four Tony awards including Best Musical, Jersey Boys tells the story of the rise, and eventual break-up, of pop superstars Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. Moving and insightful, this slickly-produced musical features the best songs from The Four Seasons' extensive catalogue of relentlessly catchy and infectious hits.
Tommy Cash
Having gained a cult following thanks to his wild live performances and unsettling music videos, flamboyant Estonian rapper Tommy Cash lays down his idiosyncratic, genre-hopping tunes at Yugong Yishan alongside the Asian Dope Boys.
Sofar Sounds
Unspecified venue. Sat 30. Free
Sofar (Songs From a Room) Sounds, also known as the secret gig movement, returns to Beijing this December. Taking pride in curating relatively secret gigs in small, intimate settings, this special New Year's edition is a brilliant chance for music lovers to listen to emerging artists.
SUNDAY
Great Wall NYE 2017
Huaibei International Ski Resort. Sun 31. 250RMB; 180RMB (presale)
Ring in 2018 with an all-day rave at Huaibei International Ski Resort. Prepare yourself for an explosion of snow, parties, winter sports, fancy dress, beats, shenanigans and general madness.
Migas' New Year's Eve Bash
The Bar at Migas. Sun 31. 150RMB; 120RMB (presale)
In case you missed the news, Migas Sanlitun will be closing its doors for good right after New Year's Eve. Give the beloved Beijing institution the send-off it deserves at its final New Year's bash with DJs from Club Paradise, Natural Flavor and Tropicalismo.
For more fabulous things to do this week, hit 'Read more'.
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