21 fantastic things to do in Beijing this weekend

Your weekend guide to some of Beijing's most outstanding events

Markets, trivia, films, art, food. What more could you want in a weekend? 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.

Women's Wave trivia brunch

Jing A. 11.30am. Sat 19. Free. 

Head to Jing A this Saturday for brunch with a side of trivia, brought to us by Democrats Abroad China Women's Caucus. Get to know the real story of herstory while sipping on beer and tucking into good grub. Extract the QR code below to sign up and get the chance to win prizes (with your team of up to six people).

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. 

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 favourite vendors. Free entry until 7pm, but Destination tickets required after 8pm.

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.

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. 

Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner

Centro. From 10am. Sun 20. 108RMB food deal. 

Watch the explosive match live on screens around Beijing this Sunday. Pacquiao's illustrious career is pretty spectacular: from the streets of Manila, he went on to become boxing's only fighter to win 12 major titles in eight weight divisions, and now spends his time both boxing and being a Senator of the Philippines. He takes on Adrien Broner this weekend, who's held numerous world championships in four weight divisions. Head to Centro to catch the match live, while enjoying a burger and beer for just 108RMB. 

Many other venues around town are also screening the fight, including Paddy O'Shea's, Caravan and Beersmith. 

Ningxia Grand Wine Tasting

Image: www.wineningxia.com

Caravan. 2pm. Sat 19. 200RMB (one person); 340RMB (two people); 150RMB (one person, presale); 250RMB (two people, presale). 

Haven't tried all the wines from Ningxia yet? We'll let you off the hook this time, but with some rather impressive wines coming out of the region, here's your chance to learn more about just 15 labels. With wineries such as Siver Heights, Legacy Peak, Kanaan, Chandon and Jiabeilan on the tasting menu, it'll be an interesting voyage into China's burgeoning wine country. For more information and to get tickets, click here. 

Sunday Braai Party 

Pizzacello (near Lama Temple). 1pm. Sun 20. 20RMB. 

Head out for a Sunday barbeque (braai) with a South African twist. Featuring strip steak, chuck steak, boerewors (original, garlic and chilli), and lamb chops for the carnivores, the braai will also play host to mealie pap, chakalaka and garlic bread. With great food, South African wine and dancing for all, it's sure to be a lekker event. 

While She Sleeps

Mao Livehouse Wukesong. Jan 18. 280RMB; 220RMB (presale).

Formed in Sheffield, England back in 2006, the metalcore five-piece are frequently described as being criminally underrated in a saturated genre that includes fellow Sheffield boys Bring Me The Horizon, plus bands Enter Shikari and Asking Alexandra. With their next album So What? slated for release this March, fingers crossed they'll be giving a sneak peek of some new stuff.

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.

Envy

Omni Space. 9pm. Sun 20. 240RMB; 200RMB (presale). 

Envy's music blends intensity and beauty to create a sound that's made this band stand out in the underground world of Japanese rock. Since their beginnings back in 1992, this post-hardcore band has made a name for itself both at home and abroad with their screamy, yet also soft, songs and vibe.

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?

Headhunterz

Sir Teen. Sat 19. 100RMB. 

Willem Rebergen, aka Headhunterz, is a DJ from – you guessed it – the Netherlands, currently ranked number 28 on DJ Mag's Top 100 DJs list, making him the highest ranked hardstyle DJ in the game. After veering towards more of an EDM sound from 2014 to 2016, the veteran Dutch producer returned to his hardstyle roots with 2018 release Studio Sessions pumping heavy beats. 

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.

Winter Folies Cabaret Show

Eudora Station. 7.30pm. Sat 19. 130-180RMB. 

Moonglow Burlesque's holiday dinner and cabaret show is back with a winter twist. Enjoy dinner and drinks while listening to vintage jazz music and winter-themed songs by Jojo Nightingale, as well as watching playful dance acts and chorus lines by Moonglow showgirls – all in extravagant Gatsby style. For more information, click here. 

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. Until 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 weekend, hit 'Read more' below. 

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