The best things to do in Beijing this week

Your weekly guide to the best of Beijing

Christmas is nearly here, and the weather is slightly better than last week – what more could we want? A whole lot of great events this week, that's what, including great gigs, great animated films and more (even more) Christmas stuff.

Camera Stylo Xmas Party

Camera Stylo. Fri 21. Free. 

Join the Christmas cheer at Camera Stylo this week for an evening of gift exchanges, holiday improv comedy, an ugly sweater contest and the best of the worst party tricks. With festive decorations, food and drinks to get you ready for the holidays, it'll be a festively fun bash. Wear your ugliest holiday sweater, bring your best/worst party trick to show off and a fun gift to exchange (75-100RMB).

Treasure Trove Last-Minute Market

Yoolee Plaza. Sat 22-Sun 23. Free. 

Always leave your Christmas shopping to the last minute? Not a problem! Get your gifts at the Treasure Trove Christmas Market. Hosted at Yoolee Plaza and sponsored by Cultural Keys, the market stays open late, and you'll be able to shop for a huge range of gift items including jewellery, bags, art, scarves, handmade beauty products, toys, preserves and more – not to mention mulled wine, mince pies and other delicious baked goods.

Lol Actually

The Great Outdoors. Sun 23. 100RMB; 75RMB (presale). 

Comedy Club China hosts their Christmassy chuckle session this Sunday at The Great Outdoors, with some of their funniest standing up for some festive gag-making, including Alex Wilson, Eric Selley, Isaac Keane, Nigel Tu, D2 and Lincoln van der Westhuizen. If the sound of Love Actually turned into a Beijing comedy show sounds like your kinda thing, then get your tickets now.

Jesse Harris

Blue Note. Thu 20-Fri 21. 220-320RMB. 

While 18 solo albums is a fair haul in itself, Jesse Harris has also lent his songwriting and guitar ability to an impressive range of artists, including Lana Del Rey, Bright Eyes (on the fantastic I'm Wide Awake It's Morning) and Norah Jones, penning and playing on the soft, mum-favourite radio hit 'Don't Know Why', which won him the Grammy for Song of the Year back in 2003.

Breathe Carolina

One Third. Fri 21. 100RMB. 

Made up of Tommy Cooperman and David Schmitt, Breathe Carolina is an EDM duo born in Denver. The electropop duo have remixed and mashed a whole host of well-known tunes, including 'Rhythm is a Dancer' and 'Sweet Dreams'.

The Lord of the Rings in Concert

Beijing Exhibition Center. Tue 18-Wed 19. 280-1,280RMB. 

The Lord of the Rings comes to Beijing in concert with The Fellowship of the Ring performed first. Howard Shore's majestic scores are brought to life by China's National Opera House Symphony Orchestra, creating the soaring, thrilling vistas of Middle Earth through music while scenes from Peter Jackson's award-winning film play behind. Experience the fellowship's quest in person, with all the sweeping, operatic greatness it deserves.

Chen Sa

NCPA. Thu 20. 80-500RMB. 

Over the past decade, Chen Sa has established herself as one of the most charismatic pianists of her generation. She earned critical acclaim at the International Chopin Piano Competition in 2000 and the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2005, which began her professional performing career, bringing her evocative performances to audiences around the world.

Revel's World of Shakespeare

Long Fu Theatre. Fri 21-Sat 22. 80-280RMB. 

A perfect one-man show that chronicles American writer, actor and director Joseph Graves’ own experiences at London’s Chelsea School for Boys under the tutelage of Clive T Revel – a tyrannical, alcoholic professor who saw Shakespeare as a religion, if not a cult), pressing his young charges into terrified service.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

In cinemas around Beijing from Fri 21. 

This family-friendly, much-anticipated remake of the Spider-Man comics is set in an animated style that reflects the original comic book panels. In a word of parallel universes, Spidey must team up with Spider-Men in other dimensions to help stop an enemy that threatens them all. Voices include Nicolas Cage, John Mulaney, Hailee Steinfeld and Mahershala Ali.

White Snake

In cinemas around Beijing from Friday 21. 

Warner Bros has teamed up with Beijing-based Light Chaser Animation to create the first Sino-US animated co-production. The story is adapted from an old Chinese folktale, Legend of the White Snake, where a spirit transforms into a human woman and falls in love. The legend's lovers are made younger in this version, though teasers from the upcoming film suggest it's aimed at a more mature audience than other Chinese animations.

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

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