11 things to do on Singles' Day that aren't online shopping
Celebrate your independence without consuming all the cash
November 11 officially marks Singles' Day, the one day of the year where single folks celebrate their independence, usually by hunting for the best bargains online. Non-single folk, too, and they all come together to create a rather OTT ode to consumerism in which spending records grow to ever more gross figures.
But for those of you who find the idea of spending your Sunday glued to your phone mildly distasteful, we've put together some alternatives to inspire you to get out there and explore the city. And the best part? Most of it is completely free. So shake off the consumer shackles as you celebrate your singledom.
What better way to spend a day celebrating singular things than amongst trees, nature's natural number one? Beijing is host to some truly amazing parks, all of which are perfect for single-strolls. Check out our roundup of some of the best, with special shout outs to Beihai Park, Jingshan Park and the Olympic Forest Park as beautiful spots for some solo wandering, if you haven't made it out to them yet. Or do it again.
And if you're looking for greenery but want to go a bit further afield, take a look at these scenic spots you can get to on a day trip.
Obviously one of the best ways to treat yourself well is to enrich your mind. So head out to one of the many museums in Beijing this weekend to learn more about a whole variety of things, including Beijing (obvs), natural history, urban planning, classic books, or really anything else you can think of... including lost love. Most (but not all) of the museums are free, or charge very little, but make sure to take your passport along!
Don't worry about anyone pulling you away from that photo or painting you adore – go by yourself to an art show and spend as much time as you like staring into the soul of creativity. Of particular note this Singles' Day is the work of Beijing-based activist, critic, artist and more Bingyi tilted Impossible Landscapes, Philippe Parreno's (pictured) examination of time, reality and fiction in Marilyn, and Hu Qingyan's newest exhibition, Absent & Superfluous, that explores intermediality through form, material and mass.
Whether you're after jazz, hip-hop, punk or anything in between, there's never any shortage of live music to see in Beijing. Gulou institution Temple Bar generally has free entry and stays open well into the early morn, but if you're looking for free entry, and jazz, this Singles' Day, head to Modernista for their Sunday jazz sesh.
Tours might be awkward if you feel like you've joined a group of happy family travellers and you don't understand their inside jokes. Well, there's no chance of that if you're taking your own tour!
For the food lovers out there, take your own foodie walking tour in either the CBD, Sanlitun (without the Great Leap #12 stop), Gulou or Dashilar.
For cycling-loving people, take a trip along the Tongzhou canal or up the central axis for a different view of the city.
Instead of pampering your wardrobe, why not pamper your mind with something that challenges those neurons? Every Sunday, The Bookworm hosts two events that are perfect for singles (or couples). If you want to get better at public speaking, the local Toastmasters club meets at 10am, where you can go along to join up and enhance your self-confidence through learning ways to better communicate and voice your thoughts. For those wanting to brush up on your Russian, join in the Russian game night (6pm) for a Sunday night based on the famous game show What? Where? When?.
'What books?' you say, looking at us like we have two heads and no eyes. Well, dear readers, in case you haven't been there yet, Page One in Qianmen (pictured) has not only shelf upon shelf of books, but also this rather incredible view out towards Tiananmen Square. So now you can spend the day alone browsing for the perfect book to soothe your soul while also looking at some of the best architecture this city has to offer. We like to call that two bests with one single.
There are many other bookstores out there, of course, with both foreign language and Chinese stores to browse. Or perhaps you want to minimise human interaction altogether, in which case browse books at an unmanned bookstore.
Spend your day in the company of whatever you listen to the internet on and learn even more about China with our pick of the pods. Whether you're into news, history or language, there's something for you. For learning Chinese, we especially recommend Learning Chinese Through Stories, which, does exactly what it says: through simple stories learn new words and grammar. For those wanting a little bit more background on the country, head to China History Podcast for an interesting, humorous take on informative topics.
Alternatively, find one of these books to read and become the China history buff you've always wanted to be.
Another great way to treat yourself? Treat your body to some good old-fashioned exercise. There are some really nice parks to run around in Beijing, as well as the aforementioned parks, and some alternative ways to work out, if you're really not into pounding the pavement. There are also dedicated running tracks, where you can find your stride and your pride:
If you can't quite get over the Singles' Day sales and the commercial lure of the shopping gods, then why not head out to somewhere a bit cheaper. Check out our favourite buys from Miniso-esque Nome or head to one of these wet markets for some real bargains on your cooking needs.
Finally, if you’ve taken a look at this list and really can’t be arsed doing anything more intensive than binge-watching your favourite Marvel films or the best movies of 2018 (so far), then make sure you’re at least well-fed by ordering in all the food you can get your hands on. Check out our list of healthy meal delivery services in Beijing (or don't, we're not judging) and you won't have to leave the comfort of your home all weekend.
Happy Singles' Day!
For even more things to do and all the details on the above, hit 'Read more'.
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