23 tremendous things to do in Beijing this weekend

Your weekend guide to the best of Beijing

Do we have a packed weekend for you. From comedy to markets, gigs to art exhibitions, this monster list contains just some of our tip-top recommendations. Want even more? Plenty more going on all over town, so head online for the full scoop.

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.

Great Buffalo Blues & Bang Bang Mary

Modernista. Fri 12. Free. 

Tip a few in on a Friday night and save animals in the process – who knew getting sloshed could be so helpful? We think this stock image baby bear above is doing okay, but you can never be too sure. Head to Modernista to help raise money for animals in captivity and in need, as Bang Bang Mary and the Great Buffalo Blues play. There'll also be good old fundraising, roof-raising raffle.

Rumble in the Jumble

Modernista. Sat 13. Free. 

And return to Modernista in the cold light of day for this monthly Beijing market, 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.

Nelson Mandela Centenary Exhibition

South African Embassy. Sat 13. 10RMB. 

This Saturday, the South African Embassy hosts a day of celebrating South Africa and the legacy of its legendary leader. Try out South African wine, Rooibos tea, as well as produce and beauty products. There'll also be traditional performances and a Mandela exhibition.

Moonglow Cabaret

Inception. Sat 13. 200RMB.

Catch the Moonglow Burlesque team as they premiere their new season programme, Moonglow Cabaret 1930. With showgirls, chorus lines and vedettes, it's a night of show-stopping song and dance, with hits from films and musicals, as well as other entertainment from 1930s America. A suitably flamboyant setting in ostentatious new cocktail bar Inception.

Second Hand Swap & Sell

Side Street. Sun 14. Free.

This Sunday, head on down to Side Street for some good old-fashioned swapping. In association with Roundabout and the Bulk House, the market comes with a whole lot of second-hand goods, as well as food and drink specials. Enjoy the last days of fall and get some deals on things you never knew you wanted.

Great Leap Brewing's eighth birthday

Great Leap 6 & Great Leap 45. Sat 13. 300RMB

Most things in Beijing don't last a long time. A few months, years at a stretch, is more the norm. Great Leap Brewing? It's been around since 2010. Eight years on, the great brewers are celebrating such a milestone with a birthday party set to make a rather memorable (or drunkenly forgotten) Saturday. Enter the Karl Long Challenge: all day long, at both locations, pay 300RMB and get a challenge card with 15 beers on it. Complete the challenge (that is, drink all 15 beers), with at least one drink at each location, and get your GLB t-shirt to become a leaping legend. There'll also be other discounts for those who don't feel up to a full 15.

Oktoberfest at Paulaner Bräuhaus

Paulaner Brähaus. Until Oct 28.

From Oct 12-Oct 28, celebrate Bavaria's world-famous beer and folk festival Oktoberfest at Paulaner Bräuhaus. Featuring barrels upon barrels of beer, plus pretzels, sausages and pork knuckles, the festival will also include performances from the Voigas Oktoberfest Band and the Munich Kleeblatt Showgirls. Festival-goers are encouraged to come dressed in dirndls or lederhosen to get into the spirit of Oktoberfest.

Catherine Ettlinger at F Bistronome

F Bistronome. Until Sun 14.

The wife of Michelin star chef Daniel Ettlinger and the niece of the guy who invented foie gras (yes, really), Catherine Ettlinger's own foodie credentials are the real deal too. Catherine specialises in comforting French home-style classics, and she's bringing that knowledge, plus dishes from her grandmother's 70+ year-old cookbook, to F Bistronome this weekend with exclusively devised lunch and dinner menus. Menu highlights include 'Grandmother's-style roast chicken', braised pork shoulder, eggs en cocotte and blueberry almond cake. The lunch menu is priced at 148RMB per person (two courses) and 178RMB (three courses), while dinner is priced at 788RMB for two people.

Martha High & The Soul Cookers

Blue Note. 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.

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'.

Bruno Major

Dusk Dawn Club. Fri 12. 150RMB; 120RMB (presale). 

London-born Bruno Major has sprung onto the pop scene with his powerful vocals and poignant lyrics. Having opened for Sam Smith and making his TV debut on The Late Late Show With James Corden, Bruno has continued his rise up the fame pole, releasing his full-length album A Song For Every Moon back in 2017.

Chris Garneau

Tango. Fri 12. 180-280RMB. Chris Garneau is an American singer-songwriter and musician whose music combines elements of folk, Americana and pop. Since releasing his debut album, Music for Tourists, his soft vocals and gentle melodies have appeared on Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice, as well as on several movie soundtracks. Garneau returns to China in October to bring his dreamlike, haunting lyrics to Beijing.

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.

Knxwledge & J Rocc

Playhouse. Sat 13. 160RMB; 140RMB (presale). 

Knxwledge is a hip-hop producer known for a unique style that melds soul, jazz and hip-hop. He's produced tracks with numerous artists over the years, including 'Momma' with powerhouse Kendrick Lamar on platinum album To Pimp a Butterfly. He brings his critically acclaimed beats to China alongside J Rocc – the co-founder of Beat Junkies and an instrumental force in the turntable world of hip-hop.

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. 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. 

Laputa: Castle in the Sky Concert

Beijing Concert Hall. Sat 13. 100-580RMB.

A captivating tribute to some of Studio Ghibli's most iconic animated films, this multimedia concert features compositions from Laputa: Castle in the Sky, Kiki's Delivery Service, My Neighbour Totoro, Princess Mononoke and the Oscar-winning Spirited Away – all created by the immense talents of composer Joe Hisaishi and director Hayao Miyazaki. A stunning must-see for fans of the Japanese animation studio.

Xu Bing: Thought and Method

UCCA. Until Oct 18. 60RMB. 

Globally renowned for his conceptual and installation pieces, Xu Bing creates a space where viewers can immerse themselves within his world. Xu brings his keen observation skills to bear as he displays his unique insight, encompassing both a reflection on traditional East Asian culture as well as a nuanced view of contemporary societal changes. This exhibition closes next week, so we highly recommend you see it while you can. 

Self-Portrait Series Exhibition: Wang Yifan

Star Gallery. Until Oct 27. Free.

This exhibition showcases Wang Yifan’s self-portrait series of oil paintings and line drawings from the past two years. Wang Yifan paints a non-realistic situation through the character’s expression, the colours, and the situation illustrated. 

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.

The Titan

In cinemas around Beijing from Fri 12. 

Earth is overpopulated and conflict-ridden. Can an army veteran and his family help save the world by finding a way to survive on Saturn's moon Titan? Starring Sam Worthington, Taylor Schiling and Tom Wilkinson, see what happens when genetic evolution and space exploration combine.

For even more things to do in Beijing this weekend, hit 'Read more' below.

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