The best things to do in Beijing this weekend

Your weekend guide to the best of Beijing

Welcome to the first weekend of 2019! Whether you're still recovering from New Year's Eve, or raring to get this year properly started, there are plenty of brilliant things to do this weekend in Beijing.

Comedy Club China: Hutong Heroes

US-China Comedy Center. Sat 5. 50RMB.

This weekend, Comedy Club China returns to the cosy confines of the US-China Comedy Center for another instalment of Hutong Heroes. This time Riley Hageman hosts a night of some of Beijing's funniest joke slingers, including Lee, James Collins, Eva Hart, David Jacobs and Nigel Tu. Get your tickets here.

Lny Tnz

     

One Third. Fri 4. 100RMB.

This versatile duo, famous for their hard-style tunes, return to Beijing this weekend to bring you new EDM sounds all the way from Vlaardingen. Head on down to One Third for a night of hard-hitting, boundary-pushing hits from Lny Tnz (pronounced 'loony tunes', for those curious).

LTJ Bukem

Dada. Fri 4. 150RMB; 100RMB (before 11pm)

Widely regarded as an innovator in the drum and bass scene, British DJ and producer Bukem's best known for tracks such as 'Horizons' and 'Logical Progression'. With a style that references early Detroit techno as well as rare groove and acid jazz from London during the '80s, expect the unexpected.

Carsick Cars + Chui Wan

               

Yue Space. Sat 5. 160RMB; 120RMB (presale).

Frequently touted as 'China's best noise rock band' with a style described as inducing 'nervy, consonant euphoria' by The New York Times, Carsick Cars are one of the most frequently covered bands in China. They're joined by the equally excellent Chui Wan, often referred to as being 'representative of the Chinese underground scene's strange and novel side'.

Robert Glasper Trio

Blue Note. Sat 5-Sun 6. 320-560RMB.

Robert Glasper has won a stunning four Grammy Awards (with six nominations) and an Emmy. The pianist and producer’s many projects include an acoustic jazz trio and numerous electric bands that explore fusions of jazz and hip hop, as well as two fresh new projects including August Greene and R+R=NOW.

Heartbeat of Home

                       

Beijing Exhibition Center. Until Sun 6. 280-880RMB.

Created by the producers and director of Riverdance, Heartbeat of Home is a music and dance spectacular featuring the vibrant, dynamic components of traditional Irish, Latin and Afro-Cuban music and dance. Described as a 'stage-thumping success' by the Toronto Star, the show is sure to get you on your feet.

Russian State Ballet: Swan Lake

Renmin University (Rulun Lecture Hall). Sat 5. 280-680RMB.

After many highly successful tours, Russian State Ballet returns to Beijing with a series of ballet classics including Swan Lake and The Nutcracker (Sun 6). In this tragic tale about star-crossed lovers, the beautiful Princess Odette has been transformed into a swan after being cursed by the evil sorcerer Rothbart. One day she encounters Siegfried, a young prince who immediately falls in love with her and promises to break the spell. Rothbart, however, is quick to intervene...

Royal Scottish National Orchestra

                          

NCPA. Sat 5. 180-1,000RMB

The Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) starts the new year with a special tour of China. Ending in Beijing, the RSNO tour sees Scotland's beloved solo violinist Nicola Benedetti take to the stage with the orchestra led by Thomas Søndergård.

Creed 2

On general release from Fri 4.

The newest addition to the Rocky franchise (following on from 2015's Creed) Creed 2 updates us on one of Rocky's most fearsome opponents, landing some solid punches on its conventionally satisfying route to vengeance. Starring Michael B Jordan, the linchpin of the rebooted series, as rising young boxer Adonis Creed, the movie knows all the beats it has to hit, and hit them it does, jab by jab.

Bumblebee

On general release from Fri 4.

In this Transformers spin-off (it's more of a reboot, really), Hailee Steinfeld plays Charlie, a tomboyish 18-year-old mourning her dad. Mechanically inclined and desperate for a car, she brings home a beaten-up VW Beetle that turns out to be a robot alien from the planet Cybertron. Might an unlikely friendship materialise? One threatened by John Cena’s uptight military man and two enemy Decepticons (voiced by Angela Bassett and Justin Theroux)? You'll just have to see.

Vision and Reflection: Photographs of China in the 19th Century from the Loewentheil Collection

Tsinghua University Art Museum. Until Mar 31. 20RMB.

American antique collector Stephan Loewentheil owns the largest private collection of Chinese historical photographs outside of China, but this exhibition sees some of the finest return to China, to be exhibited for the first time in Beijing. 120 rare early photographs of the nation will be on show, featuring masterpieces captured in the nineteenth century by both Chinese and international photographers, among them acknowledged masters of the period, as well as unexpected gems by anonymous photographers and lesser-known figures.

For more amazing things to do in Beijing this weekend, hit 'Read more' below. 

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