17 fantastic things to do in Beijing this weekend

Your weekend guide to the best of Beijing

Forget the pollution forecast, our events forecast has plenty to help keep you entertained this weekend. That being said, stay safe, Beijing, and wear those masks if you can't see the sky.

Aidan Killian

The Bookworm. Sun 18. 120RMB; 100RMB (presale); 80RMB (students). 

This Irishman is on a whirlwind world tour, with one night only in Beijing. Catch the man who's performed all over the world, with rave reviews from Edinburgh Fringe-goers. His hysterical take on politics, the world, people, economics and more makes his shows rather memorable.

Maovember winter warm-up party

Hulu. Fri 16. 150RMB. 

Hulu gets behind the Maovember movement with a warm-up party just in time for winter. Get three drinks and free-flow canapés for just 150RMB, with all proceeds going to the Maovember charities. Along with great food and drinks, and probably rather necessary heated outdoor spaces, Hulu will have an array of games on offer, so you can win prizes to keep your heart warm as well. 

CBAC Craft Beer Festival 

TRB Copper. Fri 16-Sun 18. 150RMB (per session); 500RMB (all sessions).

Plenty of delicious pours to be had at the first edition of the Craft Brewer's Association of China's (CBAC) festival, featuring only independent Chinese crafters in their largest ever gathering under one roof – over 30 brewers from across the country will be here, with beers free-flowing.

Maovembeer

Various locations. Sat 17.

This Saturday, some of our favourite breweries around town will be donating parts of beer sales to the Maovember charities.

Arrow Factory will donate 5RMB of every beer to Maovember, as well as hold a raffle (20RMB a ticket) where you can win a 24-bottle case of beer, an Arrow T-shirt, and/or a 100RMB gift voucher. (All day)

Jing A will host a pub quiz, with the 100RMB team fee donated to Maovember. Round winners get picklebacks (if you don't know what that is, count yourself lucky), while overall winners get merch, beer and vouchers. Picklebacks for others are just 25RMB all afternoon. (2pm onwards, sign up via WeChat, ID: Emmy_Andreasson)

Boxing Cat will have 15RMB tickets to win merch and beer, TKO IPA for just 20RMB, plus tickets for 25 beer flights (worth 75RMB) on sale for 25RMB, to use after Nov 17. (3-7pm)

Pinoy brunch pop-up

Little Creatures. Sat 17-Sun 18. 168RMB. 

This weekend, the Filipino foodies from Kusina ni Kabayan team up with Little Creatures to serve up two different three-course brunch menus full of Filipino classics. Choose the Tokwat Baboy menu to enjoy fried tofu with fried pig's ear and chilli dip, cured beef with fried rice as well as a green bean, pork and spinach soup, or the Kilawin Maya Maya menu which features Filipino-style snapper ceviche, chicken and pork adobo with fried rice and a green bean, pork and spinach soup. Priced at 168RMB per set, brunch also comes with a pint of Little Creatures beer or a soft drink. Happy hour prices on all wines and beer by the glass will also be running. Seats are limited, call 135 5292 5825 to reserve your spot.

Agua's Ten-Year Anniversary 

Agua. Until Sun 18. 

Spanish eatery Agua is celebrating its ten-year birthday by bringing back ten of its favourite dishes, old prices included. Highlights include garlic and chilli prawns (58RMB), suckling pig for three people (398RMB) and a lavish seafood platter for four (889RMB). To book, call 5208 6188.

Boy Pablo

Omni Space. Fri 16. 160RMB; 130RMB (presale).

Norway-based Boy Pablo, fronted by Pablo Muñoz, brings charming bedroom-pop jams straight out of dreams. Or straight out of the Mac DeMarco handbook – you decide. Following two singles in 2016, Pablo dropped his first EP Roy Pablo and his DeMarco-esque music video for 'Everytime' went viral last year, chalking up more than seven million views on YouTube.

Macondo + Acid Accident

Dusk Dawn Club. Sat 17. 80RMB; 60RMB (presale). 

After almost three years of growing and innovating around Beijing's vibrant music scene, playing in venues like Old What, Temple and School Bar to live houses like DDC, Mao Livehouse and Yugong Yishan, Macondo have finally collated their music together for their first studio album release. Their debut album received both international and Chinese acclaim, and now they're performing live again with Acid Accident for what's sure to be a night of explosive rock.

Four Tet

Omni Space. Sat 17. 300RMB; 220RMB (presale).

Formerly of the band Fridge, Kieran Hebden, aka Four Tet, has since established himself as a solo artist, emerging in the early '00s at the forefront of a genre dubbed 'folktronica'. It's not a tag he was ever particularly fond of, and his music has since expanded to more experimental electronic horizons, best heard on 2017's excellent New Energy. He was also nominated for a Grammy last year for his remix of The xx's 'A Violent Noise'.

Swindle

Aurora. Sat 17. 150RMB; 99RMB (presale).

Starting with influences from jazz, funk, dubstep and grime, Swindle has gone on to produce incredibly diverse, exciting beats that pay homage to his roots and many collaborations. Rising the ranks of the UK's underground funk scene, Swindle arrives in Beijing bringing his pulsing, off the beaten track basslines to Aurora's dancefloor.

Bear Grillz

Sir Teen. Sat 17. 100RMB. 

Vaguely anonymous, but revealed to be a producer called RJ behind the mask, this hard-hitting dubstep bear has risen to the tops of the EDM tree. Hard beats, sell-out shows, crazy set designs and a questionably loveable bear costume has made Bear Grillz a must-see in dance scenes around the world.

We Are Original Creators

Tango. Sat 17-Sun 18. 380-1,280RMB.

This two-day music festival heads to Beijing with rappers Machine Gun Kelly and JID (otherwise known as Destin Route) headlining. Day one sees VG, Young Gorilla, Bohan Phoenix and many more share the stage with JID. Day two sees Lowson, Young Poc, Ziv, Kucci and more share the stage with Machine Gun Kelly.

TNT Theatre: Macbeth

Beijing Longfu Theatre. Thu 15-Sat 17. 120-380RMB.

A dark thriller as well as a profound study of the nature and allure of evil, Macbeth was TNT Theatre's first Shakespeare production, with the troupe having presented the play in 31 countries and 267 cities worldwide since its premiere performance in 2000. This full-blooded production unleashes the vital power of Shakespeare's dark masterpiece, blending a highly physical style, well-integrated musical score and dynamic interpretation of the Shakespearean verse that has generated enthusiasm from audiences and critics alike.

Daniel Barenboim & Staatskapelle Berlin

NCPA. Sun 18-Tue 20. 280-1,280RMB.

With almost 450 years of history and tradition under its belt, Staatskapelle Berlin is one of the oldest orchestras in the world. Long-term conductor Daniel Barenboim will lead the Staatskapelle Berlin, bringing the complete set of Brahms' symphonies to Beijing audiences, as well as the symphonies of Schubert and Beethoven.

Bingyi: Impossible Landscapes

Ink Studio. Until Nov 25. Free. 

Beijing-based artist, architectural designer, writer, curator, cultural critic and social activist, Bingyi has a practice as diverse as her CV. Works at this exhibition include her recent, sensational floor-to-ceiling hanging scroll, 'A Thousand Mountains in One Particle of Dust' and her trilogy of films, Ruins, on the destruction of the Beijing hutongs.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald

Trailer via QQ

In cinemas around Beijing from Fri 16. 

This second instalment of JK Rowling's wonderful world of wizards follows the story of magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne). When the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) escapes custody – following his capture in the previous film – Scamander is enlisted by Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) to thwart Grindelwald's dastardly plans of a pureblood wizard world.

The Miseducation of Cameron Post

Camera Stylo. Sun 18. Free. 

Desiree Akhavan follows up 2014's lovely Appropriate Behaviour with a tender comic drama about a lesbian teenager dealing with society's disapproval. Part One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, part John Hughes film, it packs an emotional punch and a career-best performance from Chloë Grace Moretz.

For even more things to do and all the details on the above, hit 'Read more'. 

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