12 stellar things to do in Beijing this week

Your weekly guide to the best of Beijing

Beijing, it's that time: Time to gobble till you wobble. For those partaking in the feast of feasts this week (read: Thanksgiving), prepare thy mind before the food with cultural spectaculars like the Queensland Ballet or talks from famous museum curators (Dr Rane Willerslev). For those not partaking in dinners filled with sweet potato and pumpkin pies, there are plenty more things to do this week, including great live music, films and events to support Maovember.

A talk with Rane Willerslev

The Bookworm. Wed 21. 60RMB. 

Rane Willerslev, director of the National Museum of Denmark, heads to The Bookworm this week to discuss the value of history in the age of the internet. Rane Willerslev is an anthropologist, with a PhD from Cambridge and numerous professor and director titles under his belt. He takes a unique look at modern museums and how to engage the youth and people of today. Hear this household Danish name explore his thoughts on history and visual anthropology.

Bingo Night

Hatchery Arcade. Wed 21. Free. 

Get involved in one of the world's oldest, and best, games every third Wednesday of the month at Hatchery Arcade, with DJs, awesome prizes and plenty of food and drink deals. Enjoy 50 percent off mussel pots, all-night happy hour with 10RMB off cocktails, selected beers and wines. Keen to join? Email [e-mail] to book or just show up with a group and win. Groups of two or more who reserve ahead of time can also enjoy a complimentary portion of cheese fries.

Maovember Pub Quiz

Q Mex Bar and Grill. Wed 21. 100RMB (optional). 

For Maovember this year, Q Mex will host its fifth annual charity quiz, with brainteasers in both English and Chinese. The optional 100RMB entry fee includes two pitchers of Carlsberg, while all proceeds go to Maovember. There will also be a charity auction and drink deals, so start assembling your brainiest crew now. The charity auction starts at 9pm but we recommend getting there early as it's been packed every year. 

UFC Fight Night

Cadillac Arena. Sat 24. 280-1,280RMB.

This weekend, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) arrives in the capital for the first time ever (and returns to Mainland China for its second time). Get ready for what is sure to be an explosive Beijing debut with the world's number three (Curtis Blaydes) and four (Francis Ngannou) facing off in the main event. 

Thanksgiving

Various locations. Thu 22. 

Turkey time has arrived, and with it, a whole host of venues across Beijing offering traditional Thanksgiving meals to either take away or eat in-store. Prep that extra belt hole now, as you'll need some room to expand after these feasts. Head online for the full round-up of where to eat your fix this year, or click here. 

WorldService Project

Dusk Dawn Club. Wed 21. 80RMB; 60RMB (presale).

These five Londoners don't just look a little mismatched: their music follows suit. The avant-funk group blends jazz, punk, heavy bass beats and dark humour into an invigorating and chaotic show. Expect melodious sax combined with funky song names and intense auditory U-turns.

Jay-Jay Johanson

Mao Livehouse Wukesong. Wed 21. 200RMB; 160RMB (presale).

Once voted 'the most beautiful man in the world', Swedish singer and songwriter Jay-Jay Johanson rose to fame after the release of his first album, Whiskey, characterised by its jazzy vocals layered over trippy, film noir arrangements. Having released his latest studio album Bury the Hatchet last year, his newest music is slated to be even more seductive and startlingly eclectic than any of his prior work.

Virgin Suicide

Omni Space. Thu 22. 120RMB; 100RMB (presale).

With nothing to do with the novel or movie of a similar name, Virgin Suicide is a Danish band with sunny vibes and no death-riddled mysteries. With influences from bands such as The Smiths, The Cure and Slowdive, the indie-pop band brings dreamy melodies to the stage with warmth and sweetness.

Feeder

Tango. Fri 23. 480RMB; 380RMB (presale).

In the '90s, Londoner Grant Nicholas and Tokyo-born bassist Tara Hirose secured themselves a spot as one of Britain's most iconic rock bands. Their melodic pop-metal has won them six gold and platinum records in the UK and a global fanbase. There's no doubt this gig will be a good one.

A Midsummer Night's Dream

NCPA. Tue 20-Wed 21. 100-600RMB.

The Queensland Ballet Company bring Shakespeare's whimsical masterpiece to life in a glorious dance drama thanks to the acclaimed choreographer Liam Scarlett. Together with Mendelssohn's evocative music, Scarlett's witty choreography brings the magical and timeless story of love, jealousy and mistaken identities to life. 

Johnny English Strikes Again

Trailer via QQ

In cinemas around Beijing from Fri 23. 

When an attack on undercover agents in Britain releases the names of all its spies, Johnny English must return to the world of espionage to uncover the hacker. Starring Rowan Atkinson (obviously), as well as Emma Thompson, this newest flick in the franchise is sure to unite all of Britain, once more, around a common foe.

Replicas

Trailer via QQ

In cinemas around Beijing from Fri 23. 

This newest sci-fi flick takes a look at what it means to lose those we love and how far we'd be willing to go to bring them back. William Foster (Keanu Reeves) faces the challenge of resurrecting his family after a tragic car accident, using his pre-standing lab experiment involving the transference of human consciousness to create replicas from his cloned relatives.

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

You might have missed

More from Time Out Beijing

Check out our latest issue