16 top things to do in Beijing this weekend

Your weekend guide to the best of Beijing

Here's the best of Beijing this weekend, including fantastic live bands, awesome Christmas markets and Hollywood blockbusters on general release. But if you need more inspiration, perhaps grab yourself some mulled wine, check out one of Beijing's best shops or even see all the sights on Line 8. Because why not?

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

Christmas in Beijing

Christmas markets continue in Beijing this week, with highlights including the Beijing Flea Market's holiday edition (Sat 15). Farm to Neighbors' Christmas market (Sat 15-Sun 16) and Buona Bocca's Christmas market (Sun 16). For more information, check out our round-up of all the markets around town this month. 

Historical pub quiz

The Bookworm. Fri 14. Free. 

Join Beijing Postcards for a historical pub quiz. Answer brainteasers such as 'Where is the First Ring Road?', 'When was prostitution legalised in Beijing?' or 'Why did concubines try to kill Emperor Jiajing?'. Even if you don't know all the answers, head along with a team (of up to six people) to learn more about Beijing. When registering, please select the number of tickets for your whole team.

Haus of Lily Ho Ho Hoes Christmas Special 

Ramo. Fri 14. 80RMB. 

Haus of Lily proudly presents her Ho Ho Hoes for this fabulous Christmas drag special, with ten queens out to get you going as they are tucked, sucked, plucked and oiled up for your viewing pleasure. Entrance includes a shot at the door and a Haus of Lily holiday cookie, while drink specials are running all night, including Slow Boat's Zombie Pirate Pale Ale (30RMB). This is your chance to get wasted with some of the most fabulous gals in town – the queens include Tiger Lily, Krystal de Canteur and Elizabeth Stride, who lit up our pages a few months back.

New winter menu launch at Little Creatures

Little Creatures. Fri 14. Free. 

Little Creatures hosts a shindig this Friday for the launch of their new winter menu. And, to make the deal even sweeter and the launch more refreshing, they're also offering a free pint of Bright Ale for every new dish you order (between 5-7pm). As usual, their regular happy hour will run from 3-7pm, so head on down for some free, fruity beer and be a little bit different.

Sweat for Charity: Xmas Fundraiser

Hatchery Arcade. Sat 15. 50-200RMB. 

Beijing Women's Network is holding their last fundraising event of the year: sweat for charity. Hatchery, The Cage and Basefit are all supporting, with Angel from Basefit hosting a sweaty mini boot-camp series in the gym of The Cage (11am-12pm). Follow up the workout with a lunch next door (12.30-2pm), catered by chef Simone from Hatchery. All proceeds from the fundraiser will go to Xixi Garden. Purchase tickets and get more information by scanning the QR code below.

Jing A's Ugly Christmas Sweater Party

Jing A. Sat 15. Free. 

Christmas is coming early to Jing A, so join the team this weekend for their annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Party. Simply rock your favourite holiday sweater to enjoy happy hour from 2-7pm. They'll also be releasing their Christmas seasonal brew: Jing-A-Ling Celebration Ale, a warming dark-spiced Belgian Ale guaranteed to put you in good spirits. And if your sweater is not keeping you warm enough, there will also be hot mulled wine for 50RMB a glass.

Festive brunch at Zarah

Café Zarah. Sun 16. From 198RMB. 

Welcome in the yuletide season at Zarah and enjoy their feast of special Christmas treats, including Yorkshire pudding, German lebkuchen, freshly baked Christmas cookies, roasted candied almonds and other popular delicacies in an all-you-can-eat buffet brunch. Reservation recommended; call Zarah on 8403 9807 or email them at [e-mail].

Christmas Doggy Brunch

Side Street. Sun 16. Free. 

With food from Side Street's new winter menu, treat your favourite four-legged friends to a brunch out. Set deals for you and your pup at 129RMB and the chance to win a stay (of up to seven days) at Cuddles Pet Resort. Space is limited, so scan the QR code below to reserve your spots now.

Gunnar Haslam

Zhao Dai. Fri 14. Tickets tbc. 

This NYU grad trained in particle physics before heading into the musical realms of DJing. Now a fixture in the underground scenes of New York, Haslam spins techno, ambient, and acid to create mysterious EDM beats that are as high energy as the elements he knows so well.

This Will Destroy You

Omni Space. Fri 14. 150RMB; 120RMB (presale). 

A pretty intimidating invitation for your Friday night, we know, but expect only your emotions to be destroyed by these Texans' moving post-rock soundscapes, rousing swells and ambience. Still not sure just what post-rock is? See what musicians from three Beijing post-rock outfits told us about the genre – some of whom will be supporting This Will Destroy You this week.

Frits Wentink

Zhao Dai. Sat 15. 90RMB; 60RMB (presale).

Frits Wentink (legally known as Steve Mensink) is pretty good at defying conventions: his synths, grooves and beats challenge the norm, creating his signature style of inventive, genre-flouting sounds. Mixing heavy bass to piano chords and adding in soaring vocals, his beats will leave you buzzing.

Dadub

Lantern. Sat 15. 80RMB; 50RMB (presale).

Daniele Antezza and Giovanni Conti are the powerful duo known as Dadub. Creating a sound they call 'Post-Apocalyptic Dub', Dadub draws influence from as diverse themes as sci-fi and modern philosophy to create their alternative, experimental sound.

Safia

Omni Space. Sun 16. 200RMB; 160RMB (presale).

Australian three-piece electronica and indie-pop band Safia hail from Canberra – an unlikely but burgeoning source of new music Down Under. Beginning life in 2012 and initially consisting of two bedroom producers, Ben Woolner (vocals) and Michael Bell (drums), the duo soon expanded to include the synth and guitar input of Harry Sayers to complete the trio. They jokingly describe their sound as 'Skrillex and James Blake making sweet, tender love'. 

Searching

In cinemas around Beijing from Fri 14. 

This missing-girl mystery plays out almost entirely on screens, using social media apps and chatrooms instead of dive bars and dark alleys. The footprints being followed here are the digital kind, of course, and they’re all the scarier for that. When Margot Kim goes missing, her dad David turns to her search history for clues. Things, he quickly discovers, are not what they've seemed. 

My Neighbor Totoro

In cinemas around Beijing from Fri 14. 

Celebrating its 30th anniversary, Studio Ghibli’s very wonderful, very kawaii film My Neighbor Totoro comes to Chinese cinemas years after its 1988 release in Japan. Ten-year-old Satsuki and her four-year-old sister Mei move to the countryside with their father to be closer to their ailing mother and embark on adventures with magical creatures from the nearby woods.

The Grinch

In cinemas around Beijing from Fri 14. 

The Grinch is back, free of the grip of Jim Carrey, voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch and, in Grinch terms, a bit less grinchy (ungrinchy?) than you might expect. Cumberbatch plays the Grinch as a grouchy American, all prissy and nasal and mischievous, but with a sad, soft aspect too. He’s a grump, of course, but this is the twenty-first century, so he’s a grump with issues and a bit of a backstory.

For other great things to do in Beijing this weekend, hit 'Read more'. 

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