19 superb things to do in Beijing this week

Your weekly guide to Beijing's finest events

With the AQI level seeming to soar of late, it's lucky that the events around Beijing this week are well worth getting out of the house for, including markets, comedy nights, fantastic art and some great films on release (including hit new thriller Escape Room, pictured above). As well as these highlights, there are many more things to do in Beijing this week: explore, enjoy and don't forget to Instagram us your snaps with #timeoutbeijing.

Artist hang-up and hang-out

The SLab. 7pm. Mon 14. 150RMB. 

The SLab is hosting a gallery night for budding artists to come and socialise over a free drink that comes with admission. Hang-up your artwork to sell, leave them up for the whole week and see what happens. The conditions are: bring only what you could carry yourself; bring some cards or promo materials; try planning for 2sqm of wall space; SRP of under 400RMB. The doors to The SLab will be open all day, but in the spirit of fairness, early birds will all have to wait and start hanging at 7pm. Entry is free for viewers. For more information, visit www.theslab.space. 

Men & women speak

Café Zarah. 8pm. Mon 14. 20RMB. 

Head out for a discussion on what men and women want from their partner. Open to both singles and non-singles, a host will be present to keep the conversation flowing. Beijing Singles will also be at the event to give dating tips and advice. Afterwards, there will be time to mingle. Maybe even time to put it all to good use, eh? Registration for the event starts at 8pm and the talk will take place from 8.30pm.

Bingo night

Boxing Cat Brewery. 7pm. Wed 16. Cards from 20RMB. 

The British Club Beijing hosts a bingo night set to British tunes with all proceeds going to their charity of choice, Migrant Children's Fund. With cards starting at 20RMB, four games for 70RMB and daubers at 30RMB, the night could get rowdy with food and drink prizes on offer as well. Extract the QR code for details and sign up. 

Rumble in the Jumble

Modernista. 12pm. Sat 19. Free.

It's that time of the month again – Rumble in the Jumble is back and this time the favourite jumble sale and handicraft market sees a whole host of great food stalls, hand-made crafts, gifts and so much more. 

Ben Frank and friends

The Bookworm. 8pm. Sat 19. 120RMB. 

Comedy Club China starts off 2019 with some comedians who know Beijing like the back of their mic-holding hands: Ben Frank and Stephen Smith. Roll your way down on Saturday night for a laugh from kooky Aussie Stephen and the Shanghai-claimed, Boston-born eccentric Ben.

Spring Festival Bazaar

Destination's Multicultural Center. 12pm. Sat 19. Free.

Get into the New Year fever early with this Spring Festival art, craft, food and drink celebration bazaar. With traditional Chinese arts on display, including caramel sugar painting, as well as some  favourites vendors. Free entry until 7pm, but Destination tickets required after 8pm.

Spittoon author talks: Lijia Zhang

Camera Stylo. 8pm. Sat 19. Free.

Lijia Zhang is a writer, social commentator and public speaker born in Nanjing. In the initial phases of the Reform and Opening up era, when Lijia was 16 years old, she had to drop out of school and work in a rocket factory for ten years. Still pursuing her childhood dream of becoming a writer, she taught herself English at the same time. Today, she writes regularly in English for international publications like The Guardian, Newsweek and The New York Times. She is the author of the critically acclaimed memoir Socialism Is Great, about her rocket-factory experience, and her debut novel Lotus, focusing on prostitution in contemporary China, was published in January 2017. Join her at Camera Stylo for a talk with the author of Spitton Book Club's first read of the year, Lotus. 

Veganuary at Gung Ho!

Gung Ho! Sanlitun. 7pm. Wed 16. 180RMB. 

In a month celebrating all things vegan, head over to Gung Ho! Pizza to enjoy a kitchen takeover from chef Jamie Pea. Drawing inspiration from a recent trip to the Mediterranean, the chef will take classics and give them a mezze twist. Sign up now for a four-course meal that features sharing dishes like a palette of dips, a braised onion soup with vegan cheese, veggie stew and a special dessert. Extract the QR code to book your seat now. 

Burns Night

Peninsula Hotel. 6.30pm. Sat 19. 1,000RMB (single); 9,000RMB (table of ten). 

Join the Beijing Scottish Society as they celebrate the annual night of revelry dedicated to their great poet Robert Burns. Featuring live Scottish music, kilts – live kilts – a four-course meal, free-flow whisky (and wine, beer, softies and hopefully a loch-load of Irn-Bru). For more information, click here.

Within The Ruins

Omni Space. 8.30pm. Thu 17. 200RMB; 150RMB (presale). 

Within The Ruins, a metalcore band hailing from the US, come to Beijing this week to bring their progressive, heavy sound to the stage. Expect head banging alongside a good dose of thoughtful lyrics communicated through the majesty of screaming.

Shir Khan

Aurora. From 10pm. Fri 18. 100RMB; 50RMB (presale). 

Celebrate Aurora's first birthday – aww, they grow up so quickly – with special guest Shir Khan. An international DJ, remixer, promoter, radio host, world-traveller and new talent-spotter, Berlin resident Shir Khan is truly a jack-of-all-trades.

Yellow Claw

One Third. From 10pm. Fri 18. 160RMB (presale, includes one cocktail). 

Taking the over-the-top attitude of stadium techno acts like Scooter (jaaa!), mixing it with the profanity-laced party style of Dada Life, then filtering it all through the cutting-edge dance styles of trap and neo-electro, Amsterdam bunch Yellow Claw don't consider themselves a band or project but a 'party concept.' Band or concept, any group that takes inspiration from Scooter is A-ok in our books. By the way, how much is the fish?

Slash

Beijing Exhibition Center. 7.30pm. Sun 20. 680-1,680RMB. 

Award-winning hard rock guitarist and owner of the best barnet in music history, Slash arrives in Beijing to play his best and greatest hits. In 1985, he joined Guns N’ Roses, earning international acclaim for riffs on songs like 'Sweet Child o’ Mine'. After leaving GNR in 1996, Slash did session work and formed other bands, such as Velvet Revolver, releasing two solo albums.

Escape Room

In cinemas around Beijing from Fri 18. 

This horror-thriller may have a familiar plot, but with nuanced twists, turns and thrills, Adam Robitel's 2019 Escape Room has raked in the earnings from overseas box offices so far. As six total strangers find themselves locked in an escape room, they must find their way out before the game becomes a lot more deadly than fun. Starring Logan Miller, Deborah Ann Woll and Taylor Russell.

A Dog's Way Home

In cinemas around Beijing from Fri 18. 

Directed by Charles Martin Smith and co-written by the author of the original book, W Bruce Cameron (also the author of A Dog's Purpose and 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter), this latest film about how fantastic dogs are follows the story of Bella. Bryce Dallas Howard lends her voice to Bella, and stars alongside Ashley Judd, Alexandra Shipp and Jonah Hauer-King, as the loyal dog journeys over 400 miles to make her way back home.

Julien Brocal

NCPA. 7.30pm. Sun 20. 50-380RMB. 

Julien began learning piano at the age of five and first performed on stage at the Salle Cortot (Paris) at the ripe old age of seven. He began working with Maria João Pires in 2013, and since then has performed around the world, before recording his first solo album in 2017. The recording, featuring works from Chopin, was received with critical acclaim, earning him a five-star review from the BBC Music Magazine and was called 'quietly riveting' by The Guardian. See him here in Beijing this new year for a recital of favourites from Ravel and Chopin.

Greetings from South Korea

Three Shadows Photography Art Centre. Jan 13-Mar 10. Admission tbc.

Featuring work from more than ten Korean photographers, Greetings from South Korea presents a multi-faceted perspective of South Korean photography through the ages. Consisting of three parts, 'Limb Eung-Sik: History Through the Lens', 'Reinventing Our Time' and 'Same Seasons, Different Memories', this exhibition explores South Korean society during the mid-20th century, artistic influences from the West and contemporary photography from today's youth.

Photo Exhibition: The Last Ladies with Bound Feet

Café Zarah. 7-9pm daily. Thu 17 Jan-Wed 13 Mar. Free. 

During the nineteenth century, it was estimated that around half of all Chinese women had bound feet, but the practice was outlawed after the collapse of the Qing Dynasty in 1912. Despite this, it continued for a while, not only in remote areas but also in big cities like Beijing, though has largely disappeared in the last century. But you can still find older ladies who suffered tremendously in the pursuit of the 'perfect' little foot. This exhibition shares some of the stories of the very last ladies left with bound feet, as told to Cameron Hack, the photographer behind Humans of China.

Qiu Zhijie: Mappa Mundi

UCCA. 10am-7pm Tue-Sun. Sat 19 Jan-Sun 5 Mar. 60RMB.

With a background in calligraphy, Chinese artist Qiu Zhijie makes stunning ink maps, taking elements of traditional topographical and spatial maps and using them to explore connections between different ideas, individuals and incidents, weaving them together, and offering a possibility for understanding them in relation to each other.

For more great things to do in Beijing this week, hit 'Read more' below. 

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