The best things to do this weekend

Featuring Creamfields Festival, Avengers: Infinity War, Mother's Day and more

It's shaping up to be a pretty jam-packed party lineup this weekend, with a whole raft of international DJs touching down in Beijing for this year's Creamfields Festival. For those of you who can't make it to Creamfields, then you can still catch a bunch of its headliners (Martin Garrix, Diplo and Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike) playing solo sets at some of Beijing's biggest clubs.

This Sunday also marks Mother's Day, so make sure you treat your mum to a slap-up meal at one of Beijing's finest eateries with our handy guide.

THINGS TO DO

Europe Day 2018

Salud (Fangzhuanchang Hutong). Sun 13. 100RMB; 80RMB (presale)

Hosted by the European Young Professionals Association, this year's Europe Day rooftop party features drinks, Italian sausage sandwiches from Salsicceria Italiana, delicious French crêpes from Crêpanini, as well as a screening of the final of the 2018 Eurovision song contest and live music from two European bands. Online ticket purchasing closes Friday 11 May. 

The Beijing Flea Market

Tech Temple (Sanlitun). Sat 12. Free

The Beijing Flea Market returns for its spring edition at a new location this Saturday. A one-stop shop for all things made in Beijing, this market features more than 40 vendors selling some of the best local independent design and crafts from both established and emerging makers. 

FOOD AND DRINK

Sureño Rosé Beach Party

Sureño. Sat 12. 258RMB

Join the folks from Sureño this Saturday for an evening of rosé wine, delicious bites and springtime vibes on their outdoor 'beach'. Wear your finest linen beach outfit and Panama hat and enjoy free-flow rosé wine, rosé sangria and paired canapés all evening for 258RMB per person.

MUSIC

The Cribs

Yugong Yishan. Sun 13. 220RMB; 190RMB (presale)

Rowdy indie-rock veterans The Cribs crash into Beijing this month with a gig at Yugong Yishan – their first in the city. The NME darlings became known for some pretty riotous live shows and stage antics when they burst onto the scene in the mid-2000s, and have shown no signs of slowing up with their latest album, 24-7 Rock Star S**t.

Maximilian Hecker

Tango. Sun 13. 280-380RMB

Maximilian Hecker is a German musician known for airy pop music, with a style that's similar to Radiohead, Sigur Rós, The Verve and Nick Drake. After performing as a drummer in a number of small German bands, his demo tapes attracted the attention of Berlin-based record label Kitty-yo Records, who released his debut album Infinite Love Songs in 2001.

NIGHTLIFE

Creamfields Music Festival 2018

Topwin Golf & Country Club. Sat 12-Sun 13. 480RMB (single-day pass); 780RMB (two-day pass)

An electronic music festival that needs little to no introduction, UK festival Creamfields has been running for the last 21 years and has finally set its sights on the Mainland this year. The lineup features a whole host of dance music legends, including the likes of Diplo, Martin Garrix, Above & Beyond, Alan Walker and much, much more.

Martin Garrix

One Third. Sat 12. 480RMB; 300RMB (presale)

In 2016, Martin Garrix made history as the youngest-ever winner of DJ Mag's Top 100 DJs list, beating out legends like Tiësto, Armin van Buuren and Hardwell. In 2017, he held onto his title, making the Dutchman the world's number one DJ two years in a row. And with tracks like 'In the Name of Love', 'Animals' and 'Scared To Be Lonely', it's no wonder.

Diplo

Sir Teen. Sat 12. 280RMB

One part of Major Lazer and Jack Ü, Diplo returns to Beijing for a solo set that will follow his performance at Creamfields Festival as part of a two-day monster afterparty at Sir Teen. For more information or to purchase tickets, click here.

STAGE

Xiexin Dance Theater: From In

Tianqiao Performing Arts Center. Fri 11. 99-480RMB

Created by Chinese choreographer and dancer Xie Xin, this thoughtful modern dance production explores the power of private reflection for self-discovery and improving one's personal connections to others. From In forms part one of Xie Xin's dance trilogy, which also includes Unknown (May 12) and Obsessive (May 13).

Europa Galante

NCPA. Sun 13. 120-400RMB

Europa Galante was founded in 1990 by Fabio Biondi who wanted to form an Italian period instrument ensemble that performed both baroque and classical repertoire. Europa Galante's repertoire includes the operas of Handel such as Agrippina and Imeneo as well as works by Vivaldi, including Bajazet, Ercole su'l Termodonte, L'oracolo in Messenia and many pre-eighteenth century instrumental works.

ART

Digital Revolution

WF Central. Until May 20. 150RMB; 100RMB (weekday ticket)

WF Central has teamed up with London's Barbican Centre to bring Digital Revolution to Asia for the first time. Curated by Barbican International Enterprises, this interactive exhibition features over 140 works, including pieces from world-famous musicians and entrepreneurs like Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas, Björk, Paul Franklin (visual effects designer for Inception) and Chris Milk, music video director for music stars such as the Chemical Brothers, U2 and Kanye West.

Olafur Eliasson: The unspeakable openness of things

Red Brick Contemporary Art Museum. Until Aug 12. 160RMB; 120RMB (weekdays)

A retrospective of Olafur Eliasson's most iconic works, The unspeakable openness of things is the revered Icelandic-Danish artist's first solo show in Beijing. Encompassing Red Brick Museum's eight exhibition halls, visitors will be able to journey through a series of large-scale immersive installations – including Eliasson's seminal work The blind pavilion – which playfully explore light, mist, geometry and illusion.

FILM

Avengers: Infinity War

In cinemas around Beijing Fri 11

Aptly titled, the nearly three-hour Infinity War pours on the action – some of it grandly operatic, some of it breezy and fun – but mainly, it's about a big purple goon on a bling quest. Genocidal Thanos (Josh Brolin, ready to grumble) hopes to collect six Infinity Stones for his Pandora bracelet and thereby enact a purge of 'half of humanity'. For our full review, click here.

Megan Leavey

In cinemas around Beijing Fri 11

Megan Leavey tells the true story of an American marine and her bomb-sniffing dog Rex, from the time they served together in Afghanistan, to the time after when Leavey struggles to adopt Rex. While the not-so-subtle American politics and flag-waving might be a bother, the core of this story is about the bond between a woman and her faithful, furry companion.

For more cracking things to do this weekend, hit 'Read more'.

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