The best things to do in Beijing this week

Your forecast of the week's best events

Bad news: it's Monday. Good news: Beijing's brought another round of brilliant events for you to check out. Here are our picks of the best things to do this week that'll hopefully make the weekend seem not quite as far away.

MONDAY

The Bilinda Butchers

Omni Space. Mon 21. 200RMB; 150RMB (presale)

The Bilinda Butchers formed in the suburbs of northern California as a joint project by schoolmates Michal and Adam, taking their name from the guitarist and vocalist of My Bloody Valentine. They've since veered from shoegaze to dreamy electronic pop, a sound heard in their 2015 sophomore album Heaven. Support comes in the form of the excellent local 'gazers Default.

Africa Week 2018

Various events this week, at venues across Beijing

After kicking off last Friday, Beijing's first-ever Africa Week continues with more fantastic events dedicated to highlighting the very best of Beijing's African community, across the arts, food, business and much more. Check the full rundown of the happenings here.

TUESDAY

Bolshoi Ballet: The Flames of Paris

NCPA. Tue 22-Fri 25. 280-1,280RMB

Very few ballets can properly display the Bolshoi's overflowing energy and fiery passion as can Alexei Ratmansky’s captivating revival of Vasily Vainonen's The Flames of Paris. With powerful virtuosity and some of the most stunning pas de deux, the Bolshoi Ballet displays an exuberance almost too enormous for the Beijing stage.

WEDNESDAY

Bridging the Gap

Tsinghua University Art Museum. Until Jun 17

A legendary artist connected with Cubism, Dadaism, Surrealism and conceptual art, Marcel Duchamp eschewed labels and hated repetition, which accounts for his relatively small body of work. His art was designed to provoke reaction, and in keeping with his revolutionary spirit, the Marcel Duchamp Prize celebrates the year's most innovative French or France-residing artists. This exhibition takes creativity a step further; each of the artists display their own mixed-media 'stories' in their own 'climates,' having designed each room to best showcase their work. 

THURSDAY

National Theatre: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Tianqiao Performing Arts Center. Thu 24-Sun 27. 99-880RMB

Christopher, fifteen years old, has an extraordinary brain – exceptional at maths while ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. When he falls under suspicion of killing Mrs Shears' dog Wellington, he sets out to prove his innocence. But his detective work, forbidden by his father, takes him on a frightening journey that upturns his world. This long-running stage adaptation of Mark Haddon's acclaimed novel has scooped up seven Oliviers and five Tonys. Not to be missed.

FRIDAY

Solo: A Star Wars Story

In cinemas around Beijing from Fri 25

Back to a galaxy far, far away for Disney's second series spin-off after 2016's well-received Rogue One. A star-studded line-up including Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke and Donald Glover hit the mark, in a space western dedicated to the smoothest operator this side of Tatooine, Han Solo.

12th Planet

Hustle Club. Fri 25. 200RMB; 160RMB (presale)

John Dadzie, aka 12th Planet, is an LA-based producer who's worked with the likes of Skrillex, Skream, Plastician and even Korn. His track, 'Reasons', produced in collaboration with Doctor P, was declared by Spin magazine as one of the '30 Greatest Dubstep Songs of All Time' with John himself acknowledged as the apparent 'King of Dubstep'.

Metz

Yue Space. Fri 25. 140RMB; 120RMB (presale)

Loud and ecstatic Canadian noise rockers Metz make a frantic nod to bands like Nation of Ulysses, Shellac, The Pixies, The Jesus Lizard, and Public Image Ltd at their most vicious, but also carve out some heavy new business of their own. Their previous Beijing show at Mao Livehouse was one of 2016's best – and loudest.

SATURDAY

Oyster Festival and Shucking World Cup

EAST Hotel Beijing. From 12pm. Sat 26. 120-360RMB

Competitive oyster-shucking (yes, that's a thing) and plentiful food-festival mirth at this ode to the shellfish. The event features spectacular feats of mollusc-wielding (and mollusc-eating, if you back yourself), alongside craft beers, wines and cocktail specials, live music and more.

Made in China

One Third. Sat 26-Sun 27. 180RMB (two-day pass); 100RMB (single-day pass)

Bitten by the festival bug, this off-the-wall extravaganza sees One Third bring together the best of China's electronic music scene for a marathon weekend-long party. With a lineup that features DJL, Carta, Warz, WhyBeatz, Dirty Class and Unity, consider this your primer to Chinese electronica.

Joshua Bell and The Academy of St Martin in the Fields

NCPA. Sat 26. 180-580RMB

Violinist Joshua Bell, dubbed the 'poet of the violin', made his debut at the tender age of 14 with Riccardo Muti and the Philadelphia Orchestra. With his staggering discography and virtuosic skill, the violinist has attracted legions of fans. He performs an innovative classical programme alongside one of the world's premier chamber orchestras.

SUNDAY

011 Brunch & Day Party

The Bookworm. Sun 27. 250RMB (brunch); 200RMB (brunch, presale); 50RMB (afterparty); 30RMB (afterparty, presale)

011 is a monthly brunch party that aims to bring together lovers of R&B, hip-hop, house and Kwaito, good food and chilled Sunday vibes. Made up of two parts, 011 kicks off with a brunch from 12 to 4pm, then an afterparty from 4 to 8pm.

Jukka-Pekka Saraste and WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne

NCPA. Sun 27. 200-980RMB

Jukka-Pekka Saraste has established himself as one of the leading conductors of his generation, demonstrating almost effortless musical depth. He'll be leading the WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne this week, one of the most influential orchestras in the musical landscape of North Rhine-Westphalia.

For more details and more crackin' things to do this week, hit 'Read more'.

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