The best things to do in Beijing this weekend

Your weekend guide to the best of Beijing

With Friday just on the horizon, it's the perfect time to start planning your weekend. Whether you'd like to dine with a MasterChef, chill out with a '90s boy band or get absolutely soaked at a water balloon fight, there's sure to be something that floats your boat.

THINGS TO DO

Comedy Club China: Eat Drink Laugh

The Bookworm. Fri 6. Free 

Comedy Club China brings together Beijing's best comedians for a night of laugh-out-loud comedy before heading down to compete in the Shanghai Comedy Competition. Entry's also free, making this a brilliant opportunity to get a taste of Beijing's comedy scene.

Water Wars

Chaoyang Park. Sun 8. 150RMB; 100RMB (presale)

Imagine has organised a soaking wet social event for sweltering Beijingers to meet, greet and fight – with water. This Sunday, head over to Chaoyang Park's football field to throw water balloons, shoot water guns and fire trebuchets at your rivals. Tickets cost 100RMB (150RMB if you pay on the day), which includes water balloons and war paint. If you miss out on a spot for July's event, Imagine will also be hosting Water Wars on Aug 5 and Sep 2.

FOOD AND DRINK

Graham Elliot at N'Joy

Nuo Hotel. Sun 8. 428RMB (adults); 218RMB (kids aged 6-11)

This Sunday, celebrity chef Graham Elliot will be taking over N'Joy's kitchen. Despite receiving numerous accolades, including two Michelin stars, the former Navy brat is perhaps best-known for his frequent appearances on television, gaining global recognition for his appearances on US MasterChef, Top Chef and Iron Chef. He's set to give a live cooking demonstration for brunch guests at what promises to be an unmissable event for all foodies. Contact N'Joy at 5926 8281 to make a booking.

MUSIC

Duck Fight Goose

Yugong Yishan. Sat 7. 160RMB; 120RMB (presale)

One of Shanghai's best bands perform their latest album in full with support from excellent Beijing rapper DVC.

Dungeon Beijing

School Bar. Sat 7. 80RMB

This Saturday, the Dungeon Beijing crew descends upon School Bar once again for the sixth instalment of their hugely popular Open Fire hip-hop series. Set to take the stage from the Dungeon Beijing crew are DJ Quaver, the Odd Couple, Deformed Boi, Z Game, FaastieBwoy and loads more.

All-4-One

Blue Note. Sat 7-Sun 8. 480RMB

You've gotta hand it to All-4-One. After more than 25 years in the biz, the American R&B pop group – best known for their cover of 'I Swear' – have never broken up or lost any original members, making them a rare unicorn in the fickle world of '90s boy bands.

NIGHTLIFE

Eclectic Electric: Party Animal Edition

Infrarouge. Fri 6. 50RMB; Free if you wear animal print clothing

This Friday, DJs Half/N/Half and Pierre Camerossi (an underground techno specialist who has played alongside Carl Cox and Plastikman) will reunite the original Eclectic Electric team for a special party animal edition with an epic back-to-back set. Come wearing anything with an animal print or image and get free entrance.

Headhunterz

One Third. Fri 6. 120RMB (presale)

Willem Rebergen aka Headhunterz is a Dutch DJ currently ranked number 33 on DJ Mag's Top 100 DJs 2017 list, making him the highest-ranked hardstyle DJ in the game. After veering towards more of an EDM sound from 2014 to 2016, the veteran Dutch producer returned to his hardstyle roots in 2017 with his track 'Taking It Back'. 

Big Miz

Dada. Sat 7. 60RMB

Since the early days of his prominence on the clubbing scene running a highly respected club night in his home city of Glasgow, Chris MacFarlane (aka Big Miz) has progressed and developed into a key producer within the house and techno field, combining his traditional skills in music with contemporary electronic equipment. MacFarlane arrives in Beijing this Saturday thanks to local promoters Suanpan, who'll also be kicking off proceedings with resident DJs Juhstynn and Tanner.

STAGE

Teatro di San Carlo Ballet: Cinderella

NCPA. Fri 6-Sun 8. 100-600RMB

The world's favourite rags-to-riches fairy tale where dreams can come true is a magical mix of Prokofiev's energetic score, lively choreography and colourful costumes. Don't miss this stunning adaptation from one of Italy's most distinguished ballet companies.

Peter Rösel

NCPA. Sun 8. 50-380RMB

The son of a conductor and a singer, Peter Rösel was born in Dresden and started to learn the piano at the age of six. His works range from the piano concertos of Beethoven, Schumann and Rachmaninov to the solo piano works of Brahms, documenting the broad, artistic range of one of the most highly acclaimed pianists of his generation.

ART

Joan Cornellà

Parkview Green Art 798. Jul 6-28. 65RMB (presale)

'For me personally, it is fiction what allows me to laugh. Reality is quite creepy.' Spanish illustrator, cartoonist and artist Joan Cornellà is best known for his dark and surreal comedic comic strips that make clever, if a little absurd (and sometimes even offensive) social commentaries, and has amassed a huge social media following of nearly seven million. After a string of Asia exhibitions in recent years, this is his first Beijing solo show.

Hello, My Name is Paul Smith

Today Art Museum. Until Oct 7. 120RMB (weekend); 90RMB (weekdays)

From his company’s modest beginnings in Nottingham to its international prominence today, this exhibition showcases Paul Smith’s intuitive take on design, and the British fashion designer's journey in building his brand, as well as his evolving stylistic tastes.

FILM

Play

Camera Stylo. Fri 6. Free

In central Gothenburg, Sweden, a group of boys aged 12 to 14 robbed other children on about 40 occasions between 2006 and 2008. However, rather than utilising physical violence, the thieves used advanced role-play and gang rhetoric to achieve their ends. An astute and thoughtful look into adolescent bullying.

Incredibles 2

In cinemas around Beijing until Jul 27

Still underground with criminalised superpowers and a destroyed home, Mr Incredible, Elastigirl and their children, Violet, Dash and the explosive baby Jack-Jack, quietly live in a dingy motel. However, their luck suddenly turns when a pair of wealthy siblings – the naive Winston (Bob Odenkirk) and brainy inventor Evelyn (Catherine Keener) – offer them a chance to restore the Supers' reputation. For our full review, click here.

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

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