11 fantastic things to do in Beijing this week

Your weekly guide to the best of Beijing

Now that most of you have had a week off, it's back to the grind. But don't worry, there's plenty of great things to do this week to keep you happy and distracted.

Andy Curtain

Salud. Fri 12. 100RMB; 80RMB (presale). 

Australian stand-up comedian and Kung Fu Komedy owner/founder Andy Curtain heads to Beijing this week with his latest show. Andy's made quite a name for himself down in Shanghai (being the founder of Mainland China's first and only full-time comedy club can do that to a person), but he's also performed around the world, from Asia and Australia, all the way to the US. Check him out this Friday and see what all the fuss is about.

Artist Talks: Process + Place

The Bookworm. Fri 12. 60RMB. 

Celebrating 45 years of diplomatic relations between China and Australia, Process + Place is an international exhibition that explores migration and exchange, urbanisation and globalisation, exploration and enquiry. Four of the six artists featured in Process + Place will talk through these ever-changing conditions and how process and place impact art. Head to The Bookworm this Friday to hear Kate Anderson, Vicki Grace, Bernadette Olle and Tony Scott discuss their work.

Rumble in the Jumble

Modernista. Sat 13. Free. 

Beijing's monthly market is back, featuring a mix of haberdashery and homemade goodies. From baking, clothing, jewellery, books and more, the bazaar is a one-stop shop for all things vintage and craft. 

Roundabout Book Fair

Dulwich College Beijing. Sat 13-Tues 16. Free. 

DCB (Legend Garden Campus) kindly hosts a Roundabout Charity Book Fair. The book fair is coming to Dulwich this week with thousands of books for everyone including different genres, languages, children's books and many more. If not priced, books will go for 10RMB (softcover) or 20RMB (hardcover). 

Tennyson

Yue Space. Thu 11. 120RMB; 90RMB (presale). 

Canadian siblings Luke and Tess Pretty make up Tennyson, an outfit that blends jazz with electronica and seemingly every sound in between. The duo has made waves in the music scene for their young start and eclectic sounds, producing hits such as 'Lay-by' and 'Fault Line'.

Martha High & The Soul Cookers

Blue Note. Thu 11-Fri 12. 220-360RMB.

Martha High's known for her incredible vocals, being one of James Brown's most trusted backing vocalists. She heads to Beijing this weekend to bring you funky sounds with The Soul Cookers.

Electric Lady Music Festival 

Yue Space. Fri 12-Sat 13. 150-320RMB.

Electric Lady celebrates independent women: their music, their art, their style and their growth. While the music ranges from hip-hop to electronic, the theme remains bound to the independence of women. Featuring Subs, ZaZaZsu, The Pupil, Doris, Nocturnes, LowsOn and many more.

4B

One Third. Fri 12. 100RMB. Bobby McKeon, aka 4B, has been producing music for some time, starting when he was just 14 years old. With support from heavy EDM hitters such as Skrillex, Tiesto and DJ Snake, he's thrived in the trap world, creating club anthems and festival hits such as 'Pop Dat' and 'Whistle'.

The Australian Ballet: The Sleeping Beauty

NCPA. Thu 11-Sun 14. 100-800RMB. 

Set to Tchaikovsky's celebrated score and featuring breathtaking designs by Gabriela Tylesova, artistic director of the Australian Ballet David McAllister's production stays true to the magic and majesty of the original and showcases the talents of the entire company in iconic moments like the Rose Adage and the Bluebird Pas de deux. An opulent, reawakened adaptation that's not to be missed.

Rent

Century Theatre. Thu 11, Sun 14. 80-880RMB.

A re-imagining of Puccini's La Bohème, Rent follows a year in the lives of seven impoverished artists struggling to survive in the thriving days of New York City's Alphabet City, under the shadow of HIV/AIDS. This Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning masterpiece returns to the stage in a vibrant twentieth anniversary touring production. 

March of the Penguins 2

In cinemas around Beijing from Fri 12. 

A semi-sequel to Luc Jacquet's 2006 stunning film, the director and team return to Antartica to follow a young penguin on his first big trip into the unknown. With more powerful cameras, state-of-the-art equipment and Morgan Freeman as the narrator, it's a documentary not to be missed.

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

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