The best things to do in Beijing this weekend

Your weekend guide to the best of Beijing

Happy Valentine's Day, Beijing! Get out with your loved ones (including yourself and your friends) this weekend for some amazing events around town.

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 or let us know on Facebook what you really enjoyed.

Valentine's Day

Thu 14. 

Need some inspiration for the day of love? Maybe you want to brush up on your Beijing-based pickup lines or wine and dine that special someone. Whatever you want to get up to this year – including great ways to spend it by yourself or with your friends – check out all you need to know about Valentine's Day in the city of lurveeee (known to some as Beijing). 

Masquerade Charity Ball

YCIS Beijing. 6.30pm. Fri 15. 350RMB. 

Love animals? Love dressing up? Love good food? Well, head back to the Roaring Twenties this Friday, and enjoy a three-course meal from Annie's alongside entertainment from YCIS talent. All proceeds from the ball will go to animal charities around Beijing, including Lost Puppies of Beijing, A Voice for Animals and Roots and Shoots. Bring your mask, dress for the '20s and spend some money to help our furry friends. To get tickets, extract the QR code below.

Slow Boat Brewery Beer Tour

Slow Boat. 2pm. Sat 16. 150RMB. 

Like Slow Boat beer? Want to know more about how it's made? Head to the Sanlitun brewpub on Saturday for a full tour, Q&A session, free-flow beer and more. Extract the QR code to register, limited number of spots.

Hutong Pub Crawl

Location TBC. 8pm. Sat 16. 50RMB. 

Head out with Beijing Experience for their newest hutong pub crawl. Visit three bars around the Gulou-Andingmen area and enjoy free shots and discounts. Explore hutong nightlife, meet new friends and drink good drinks. For more information and to sign up (plus find out the meet-up spot), add César on WeChat (ID: 13071139166).

Sunday market at Beijing Riviera

Beijing Riviera. 12pm. Sun 17. Free. 

Out in Shunyi this weekend and want some good food, wine and giftables? Head to the market this Sunday for the chance to check out some of Beijing's best vendors. 

Brian Aylward

The Bookworm. 8pm. Sun 17. 120RMB; 100RMB (presale). 

He's from Canada. And it appears the Canadians love him over there, naming him the 'best stand-up comic' back in 2016 (according to the Canadian Comedy Awards). He's been nominated and named the best in various other awards, including in Seoul and Perth. Must be good. Stand up for this stand-up bag of laughs this Sunday.

Where to dine this Valentine's Day

Haven't made plans yet and worried you'll snip that love in the bud? Don't worry – take a look at this list of Valentine's Day dining deals for every budget and find something for you and your boo. 

Fall in Love Again

Little Creatures. Until midnight. Thu 14. 

Little Creatures is making it easy for those without love this Valentine's, with an amazing deal for groups with an extra: Any table with a third or fifth wheel gets the first round of beers on the house, while any singleton hanging out all by themselves gets a free pint.

Beer V-Day at Slow Boat

Slow Boat. Until midnight. Thu 14. 

To celebrate Valentine’s Day, Slow Boat is putting their ruby-red La Mei Saison on special for 25RMB all day. Head there alone or bring a special someone, all are welcome.

Beer My Valentine

Arrow Factory. Until midnight. Thu 14. 

Arrow Factory is spreading the love this Valentine's Day with an all-day happy hour: Receive 10RMB off all beers (5RMB off bottled beers) plus house wine and mixed drinks for 30RMB a glass.

Valentine's at Arch

Arch. Until 2am. Thu 14. 

Hide away with your Valentine in Arch's romantic hutong hideaway. Choose from one of two sets: Set A features two special cocktails, two glasses of red wine, fresh fruit, and hand-made chocolates (520RMB); Set B features Bollinger champagne, serrano dry-cured ham and hand-made chocolates (1,314RMB). Treat them.

V-Day at 50/50

50/50. Until 3am. Thu 14. 

Head to 50/50 this Valentine's Day for 20 percent off if you're a couple or on a date, as well as buy one, get one free on house red wine (even if you're by yourself).

Saint Valentine Remembrance Party

Café Zarah. 10pm. Thu 14. Free

Instead of a mushy-gushy Valentine's Day dinner, Zarah are throwing a 'Saint Valentine Remembrance Party' in order to say cheers to the martyr of the 3rd century. Take the pressure off of Valentine’s Day and swing by Zarah to honour Saint Valentine, with happy hour all night (house wines and prosecco are 30RMB per glass) as well as a live DJ.

Year of the Pig Opening Weekend

School Bar. 9pm. Fri 15-Sat 16. 60RMB. 

To ease you into the Year of the Pig, School Bar has put together a two-day weekend blowout of rock, ska, punk and more to start the year on a high note. Day one features all-star ensemble prog rockers Haze Maze, neo-funk outfit Jokers Belief, long-term running ska-punk band End of the World and classic metal/punk dudes Electric Sewage. Continuing the madness on day two are electro bluesy jokers Ghetto Blaster, punk outfits Show Hand and Husband Killers, and rounding out the line-up, uber-talented youngsters War/N/T.

Andy Hart

Zhao Dai. 10pm. Fri 15. Tickets TBC.

Andy's taken his slick songs from Melbourne to Berlin, and now heads to Beijing to play Zhao Dai. His music spans the countries he's travelled, bringing history and culture into his deep and thoughtful clubhouse beats. Expect a sound that questions reality while bringing you back to it.

Glades

Dusk Dawn Club. 8.30pm. Fri 15. 150RMB; 120RMB (presale).

This Sydney-based alternative-pop trio formed back in 2015, taking the streaming world by storm. With massive hits like 'Do Right' (which was awarded ARIA gold), 'Drive' and 'Off Limits', Glades have earned themselves hundreds of millions of streams worldwide. Coming off the back of their latest release, To Love You, Glades is now touring the world and bringing their mix of synthscapes, reverberating beats and rather catchy hooks to ever more people.

Blind Observatory

Zhao Dai. 10pm. Sat 16. Tickets TBC. 

Blind Observatory recreates a starry observatory on the dancefloor. Influenced by sci-fi themes and the beauty of the stars, this Berlin-based DJ produces early techno sounds in his dynamic sets.

When Harry Met Sally

The SLab. 7pm. Thu 14. 50RMB. 

No plans, no partner or not big on Valentine's? Great! Then head to a movie night at The SLab to catch classic rom-com When Harry Met Sally. Doors open at 6.30pm, so go early to get your drinks and gourmet popcorn. Open seating with priority seating for online sign-ups, so don't wait to register. Entry ticket gets you a complimentary drink. *Valentine’s special: sign up two people to get free popcorn. 

The Wandering Earth (流浪地球)

On general release now. 

Adapted from a short story by renowned sci-fi writer Liu Cixin, director Frant Gwo's much-anticipated The Wandering Earth is being hailed as China's biggest sci-fi movie to date. The premise? With the sun predicted to imminently die, humanity sets a plan in motion to launch planet Earth out of orbit and find a new home in space. Original language: Mandarin. 

Valentina Lisitsa

NCPA. 7.30pm. Thu 14. 214RMB. 

Valentina launched her career on social media and is known for being the first classical music performer to go viral on YouTube, where she remains one of the most frequently viewed pianists. She's since gone on to transfer that fame to the stage, performing her renditions of classical greats around the world.

Ning Feng & the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra

NCPA. 7.30pm. Sat 16. 100-580RMB. 

Since its first concert in 1954, the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra, as known as Osesp, has undergone major changes and has now released more than 80 CDs, becoming an integral part of São Paulo and Brazil's culture as a whole, fostering deep-rooted cultural and social transformations. This week, Osesp comes to Beijing with Marin Alsop, the chief conductor of the orchestra since 2012, and Ning Feng, a violinist from Chengdu who has become an international star, best known for being the first student at the Royal Academy of Music in London to receive full marks for his final recital.

Württemberg Chamber Orchestra Heilbronn

NCPA. 7.30pm. Sun 17. 50-380RMB. 

Ruben Gazarian conducts the Württemberg Chamber Orchestra Heilbronn (Württembergisches Kammerorchester Heilbronn) as they bring their avant-garde and romantic compositions to the Beijing stage.

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

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