The best things to do in Beijing this week

Your weekly guide to the best of Beijing

Cool enough to stick around in Beijing this Golden Week? Luckily for you remainers, there's plenty still going on, with top-class sports and gigs on their way. The city also seems set to provide some lovely weather for any and all outdoor exploring – check out Beijing's best parks, see the autumn leaves, or even just eat al fresco.

2018 China Open

While many of the top seeds (and some lesser-ranked heroes like Andy Murray) have pulled out, there's still some excellent tennis on show right here in Beijing, all week long.

The Drifter

Dada. Tue 2. 80RMB. 

Mark Flynn, aka the Drifter, is an Irish producer, DJ and singer known for his melodic electronic tracks. His sets incorporate house, techno and disco into a hypnotic sound that has gained him the support of LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy.

Sullivan King

Sir Teen. Wed 3. 100RMB. 

Not even Sullivan King himself can quite categorise the music he produces, bleeding face-melting riffs into rapid dubstep beats, creating a new genre with metal-EDM vibes that's anything but subtle. Quite intense.

Galcher Lustwerk

Zhao Dai. Wed 3. 80RMB. 

With smooth tunes and mesmerising soundscapes, Lustwerk effortlessly blends hip-house with house. Experience it for yourself this Wednesday at Zhao Dai with Kai.f and Mohemann as support.

Alpine Decline + Chui Wan + Birdstriking

Yue Space. Fri 5. 150RMB; 100RMB (presale). 

Beijing indie label Maybe Mars holds a special gig for its eleventh anniversary featuring some of its biggest and best, with dreamy LA/Beijing-based duo Alpine Decline joined by the excellent Chui Wan and Birdstriking.

Bohemian Betyars

School Bar. Sat 6. 100RMB; 80RMB (presale). 

Self-described as speed-folk freak-punk, Bohemian Betyar's music has evolved into a new, exciting mixture – including rocking punk, bouncing ska, and swooping psychedelia all spiced up with Hungarian, Balkan and gypsy elements. Expect reasonably high BPM.

Ben Nicky

One Third. Sat 6. 100RMB. 

British Ben Nicky is rising through the ranks of the UK trance scene, with massive mashups – catch him in Beijing as he heads to One Third this Golden Week.

Shower

Camera Stylo. Thu 4. Free. 

It's a bit disconcerting that this film starts with its most amusing scene – a daydream vision of the bath-house of the future as a kind of car wash for humans – but Zhang Yang’s wry lament for the public baths of yesteryear is fresh, funny and sad enough to survive playing its trump card too early. The characters, twists and sub-plots are all straight out of soap opera, but Zhang marshals them with enough skill to make the whole a credible reflection of modernisation and loss in present-day China. We've ranked it number 48 on our list of the 100 best Chinese mainland films, see if you agree. 

The Room and The Disaster Artist

Camera Stylo. Fri 5. 50RMB. 

2003 saw the release of The Room, the tale of a banker and his wayward fiancée. Widely hailed to be the worst film ever made, it swiftly became a cult classic, the making of which is the subject for the 2017 film The Disaster Artist, starring James Franco. The Disaster Artist tells the story of Greg Sestero, an aspiring actor who meets the weird and mysterious Tommy Wiseau in an acting class. They form a unique friendship and travel to Hollywood to make their dreams, and The Room, come true.

Leave No Trace

Trailer via QQ

Camera Stylo. Sun 7. Free. 

This US drama follows a father and daughter duo who live off the grid in Portland, Oregon. As authorities begin to challenge their lifestyle, the family has to fight to stay together. Directed by Academy Award-nominated Debra Granik, the film received widespread critical acclaim.

Stomp

Poly Theatre. Until Fri 5. 180-780RMB. 

Matchboxes, brooms, garbage cans, Zippo lighters and more fill the stage with energising beats at Stomp, the inventive and invigorating stage show that's dance, music and theatrical performance blended together in one electrifying rhythm.

Vienna Boys Choir

NCPA. Thu 4. 280-1,080RMB. 

The hugely popular Vienna Boys Choir returns to Beijing to perform at the NCPA. The choir is known for their pure tones and diverse programming that includes Austrian folk songs and waltzes, classical masterpieces, beloved pop songs and holiday favourites.

For more great things to do in Beijing, hit 'Read more'.

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