14 great things to do in Beijing this weekend

Your weekend guide to the best of Beijing

With temperatures plummeting this week, it might seem like the right time to throw in the towel, bundle up indoors and avoid the cruel, cold world outside at all costs. But with an excellent range of food and drink deals, as well as a whole bunch of activities, art exhibitions and markets to be explored, there are still plenty of reasons to wrap up and leave the house.

As well as these highlights, there are many more things to do in Beijing these next few days: explore, enjoy and don't forget to Instagram us your snaps with #timeoutbeijing.

Christmas in Beijing

Searching for present ideas or just an excuse to drink lots of mulled wine with friends in the name of festivity? Christmas highlights this weekend include The Hutong Winter Fayre (Sat 8), The Bookworm's Jolly Christmas Fair (Sun 9) and the Polish Christmas Bazaar (Sat 8). For more, check out our round-up of all the markets around town this month. 

Midnight in Peking Walking Tour

Unspecified venue. Sat 8. 388RMB.

It's the final edition of 2018 for the official Midnight in Peking tour – your last chance to retrace the footsteps of those embroiled in the grisly death of Pamela Werner, a British diplomat’s daughter, in 1930s Peking, as told in Paul French's bestselling murder mystery. This special edition includes pre-tour mulled wine, a cocktail at Beijing Hotel NUO, and a post-tour lucky draw for some festive goodies.

Beijing Singles Night: LGBT

The Great Outdoors. Sat 8. 60RMB. 

Beijing Singles Night comes again this time for the LGBT community. There will be speed dating, icebreaker bingo, games and a raffle. Raffle prizes include discounts from Whisky Vince, Sunbeam Mindfulness and goodies from Cheers.

Beijing Postcards: Xmas Extravaganza

Beijing Postcards. Sun 9. 350RMB. 

Head to Beijing Postcards this Sunday to spend the day learning and making. Listen to a local neighbourhood choir while taking a slurp of Slow Boat's newest beers, wrapped in beautiful labels specially designed by Beijing Postcards themselves. The Xmas Extravaganza also includes a Dashilar scavenger hunt, a Qing porcelain jewellery-making workshop, a brushmaking masterclass and Beijing history told through ten maps in 20 minutes.

De Refter Closing Party

De Refter. Thu 6. 100RMB. 

As De Refter is sadly closing its doors, the Belgian brasserie will be hosting a closing party on Thursday, saying goodbye the best way it knows how – with plenty of booze. Simply purchase a ticket priced at 100RMB to enjoy free-flow draught beers and bottles of Jing A all night. De Refter's full menu will also still be available on the night, so for those wanting to try their controversial-but-tasty guabao creations, this is your last chance.

Peruvian cocktails, Peruvian bartenders

Pachapapi. Fri 7-Sun 16. Free. 

Pachapapi has the perfect recipe to warm you up this winter. From Friday 7 until Sunday 16 December, the best of Peruvian exotic drinks and Pisco cocktails will be mixed by talented bartenders straight out of Peru. Alexander Holender and Jorge Chung Wong both have years of experience working in Peruvian restaurants and bars, making them rather great hosts for a different kind of drinking session in Beijing.

Drag Brunch: The Christmas Edition

Home Plate. Sat 8. 300RMB. 

Drag Brunch is back, with a Christmas twist. Head to Home Plate on Saturday for an afternoon hosted by Ms Anna Summers, including stunning queen performances, comedy and Christmas songs. The three-hour buffet brunch ticket includes all you can eat, unlimited drinks and a chance to win some fabulous prizes. Stick around after the food for happy-hour prices on drinks after 3pm.

Hatchery's Boozy Birthday Brunch

Hatchery Arcade. Sat 8. 138RMB. 

Hatchery's celebrates three years in action this Saturday with the return of their Tel Aviv brunch. Featuring Middle Eastern classics such as hummus, falafels, spanakopita, chicken shawarma and more, for an additional 148RMB, diners can enjoy free-flow prosecco and Kirin beer for two hours. Seats are limited; register your spot by scanning the QR code below.

Blastfemme

DDC. Fri 7. 100RMB; 80RMB (presale).

Straight from the dangerous underground scene of Rio de Janeiro, feminist disco punks Blastfemme come to Beijing to bring their explosive energy to the DDC stage. Known for the sensuality, power and strength of their music and message, they add punk to disco with a hearty dose of resistance and fight for women's rights. They're joined by Chinese counterparts Xiaowang, plus Lonely Leary and Thruoutin.

Zomboy

One Third. Sat 8. 120RMB.

Zomboy, a dubstepper and drum 'n' bass sound master, heads back to China with his powerful and ruthless mixes. Coming off the back of his 2017 release, Rott N' Roll, Zomboy's now making his way around the world, and is said to be influenced by the likes of Skillrex and Rusko, with his well-known remix of 'Don't Let Me Down' garnering millions of listens.

Daniel Haaksman

Dada. Sat 8. Tbc. 

Berlin-based Daniel Haaksman has travelled the world creating musical genres as he goes, and brings his music fusion to Dada this weekend, blending in the club-thumping sounds of kuduro, trap, house and more.

Aquaman

In cinemas around Beijing from Fri 7. 

The latest DC superhero to get a Justice League spinoff is Jason Momoa's Aquaman. With the powers of Atlantis ready to resurface and take over dry land, our half-human, half-Atlantean hero must use his badass trident to quell this submarine revolt from his aquatic motherland. Also starring Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Nicole Kidman and Patrick Wilson.

Another Way of Telling

Three Shadows Photography Art Centre. Dec 8-Jan 6. 60RMB. 

Featuring over 100 works from two of the UK's leading documentary photographers, Anna Fox and Karen Knorr, Another Way of Telling shines an acerbic light on social issues of today. Combining works from various series, the exhibition uses humour and satire to reveal Britain's, and the world's, contemporary society – seeing class, gender, self-awareness and attitude norms through the two women's piercing eyes. As Three Shadows writes, 'the mix of carefully observed reality and consciously constructed illusions, is embodied in the work of Anna Fox and Karen Knorr, described here as "another way of telling".'

Gone with the Wind

Beijing Exhibition Center. Tue 4-Sun 9. 180-1,080RMB. 

The world premiere of the English-language musical version of Gone with the Wind opened last weekend in Beijing and continues until Sunday. Set in 1860s Georgia, Gone with the Wind follows the story of the 17-year-old Scarlett O'Hara, the eldest of three daughters living a life of luxury on her father's plantation. But when President Lincoln demands the end of slavery in the South and the Civil War begins, Scarlett's life is changed forever, and the beginning of an incredible journey through both war and peace is mirrored in her turbulent relationship with Rhett Butler.

For more great things to do in Beijing this weekend, plus all the details for the above events, hit 'Read more'. 

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