20 of the best things to do in Beijing this week

Your weekly guide to amazing events around Beijing

Happy Monday, Beijing! Have we got a week for you. From super-star comedians to St Patrick's Day celebrations, the Bookworm Literary Festival to incredible musicians and classical music, this week is going to be a big one.

As well as these highlights, there are many more things to do in Beijing this month: explore, enjoy and don't forget to Instagram us your snaps with #timeoutbeijing.

Trap N' Paint

Caravan. 7pm. Thu 14. 250RMB. 

Trap N’ Paint is an evening to celebrate creativity and music, all while having a drink. Rather than your usual Sip & Paint, where people drink and create art, experience art and drinks with a steady stream of trap music to get your creative juices flowing. Get ready for challenges, giveaways and plenty of partying with the best trap and hip-hop music playing from one of Beijing’s hottest DJs. For more information and to get tickets, extract the QR code below.

Jim Gaffigan

Super Theatre. 8pm. Thu 14. 280-680RMB. 

Known for his self-deprecating wit on the subjects of parenthood, laziness, eating and being American, Gaffigan is a Grammy-nominated comedian, actor, New York Times best-selling author, top touring performer, and multi-platinum-selling father of five. He's performed for Pope Francis – and is one of only ten comics in history to sell out Madison Square Garden. #Blessed? He comes to Beijing as part of his Quality Time tour and we're eager to see if he can sell out here as well.

Bookworm Literary Festival

The Bookworm. Sat 16-Sun 31. 

The literary fest is back, this year seeing a killer line-up of talent and talks that will take you from feminist awakenings to Chinese hip-hop. This opening weekend, our favourites are back, with Paul French and Jeremiah Jenne discussing the fascinating range of people that end up in China and Leta Hong Fincher taking an in-depth look at China's growing feminist movement. Extract the QR code below for the full list of events and links to buy tickets. 

Eco-Art Challenge

Gung Ho! Sanlitun. 3pm. Sat 16. 60RMB. 

'In China, 4 billion paper boxes and 7-8 billion plastic bags are generated every year due to fast-delivery packages, polluting farmlands and the ocean.' The Eco-Art Challenge aims to address this topic by hosting a seminar where experts can share knowledge and participants can learn more. Sign up for a week-long free-from-plastic-packaging challenge and help create a whale sculpture with waste.

Italian Wine Journey

Hatchery Arcade. 1pm. Sat 16. 380RMB. 

Hatchery has teamed up with Italian wine experts from VM Fine Wines to create an unforgettable culinary journey with wine through Italy. Hatchery's food director, chef Simone, has designed a special menu, so you can eat your way through a five-course meal paired with specially chosen wines.

Shepherd's Pie Championship Bake Off

4corners. 3pm. Sat 16. 80RMB.

In celebration of St Paddy's this year, 4corners is hosting what could only be described as the best spin-off Bake Off, ever. The Shepherd's Pie Championship will see eight teams pitted against clocks, ovens and rowdy public judges. For your chance to taste (and vote on) the best pies in Beijing, head to 4corners for some serious Beijing baking. The entrance fee gets you a nibble of all eight pies, a free cocktail and, of course, the right to vote. Click here for more information.

Paul Draper

Omni Space. 8.30pm. Tue 12. 150RMB; 120RMB (presale). 

Paul Draper, aka former frontman of rock band Mansun, heads to China for his first-ever tour of the Mainland. Accompanied by his regular guitarist, Ben Sink, Draper comes east to perform acoustic sets, with maybe even a sneak preview of his forthcoming album, slated for release sometime this year.

XianTong

School Bar. 8.30pm. Fri 15. 120RMB; 100RMB (presale). 

Post-rock chamber-pop foursome hailing from Weihai, XianTong were formed in early 2016 by the former guitarist of the hugely popular Beijing band Nuclear Fusion-G. The line-up is completed by fellow guitarist Bo Wen, drummer Li Wei and bassist Niu Yinong, as well as friend and artist Sun Ye, who paints and creates covers and artwork for all of XianTong's songs and releases.

JMSN

Post Mountain Art Space. 8pm. Sat 16. 160RMB. 

You've probably already heard JMSN even if you don't know it: He's one of the ethereal voices singing backups on tracks like 'Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe' and 'The Art of Peer Pressure' from Kendrick Lamar's Good Kid, MAAD City LP. JMSN, pronounced Jameson, is the stage name of Detroit-born singer-songwriter Christian Berishaj, who has a sound reminiscent of Prince, and a look reminiscent of Jesus. Hear his take on R&B this weekend as he heads to the Mainland on his Velvet China tour.

Gang of Four

Tango. 8.30pm. Sat 16. 330RMB; 280RMB (presale). 

Arguably one of the most important and radical punk rock bands of the last 30 years, Gang of Four are heading out into the world again with a new album and tour. This group of four are the musical, not political, type of gang. Although, Rolling Stone once described the band as 'probably the best politically motivated band in rock 'n' roll', so who knows.

The Underground Youth

Omni Space. 8.30pm. Sat 16. 150RMB; 120RMB (presale). 

The Underground Youth, a British band hailing originally from Manchester, creates music that brings dark, cinematic themes to psychedelic soundscapes alongside garage rock. Hear their moody, raw music this weekend as they play Omni Space.

Amadou & Mariam

Tango. 8pm. Sun 17. 220RMB; 180RMB (presale). 

Amadou and Mariam have been making music together since they met at the Institute for Young Blind People in Bamako, Mali (they have both been blind since youth), almost 30 years ago. Three CDs, five cassettes (released only in West Africa) and a constant touring presence have made them a major draw in France and Mali for more than a decade.

Let us be Heroes

Camera Stylo. 3pm. Sat 16. 30RMB. 

Let us be Heroes explores the impact of our food and lifestyle choices on our health, our home planet and our values by sharing inspiring stories from athletes, food and fashion entrepreneurs, a public speaker and an ocean warrior fighting to protect people, the planet and animals. Can we change the world by changing our habits? We can only hope so.

Captain Marvel

On general release now. 

Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) becomes one of the universe's most powerful heroes after two alien races at war trap Earth in the middle of the maelstrom. Set in the '90s, Captain Marvel brings out a whole new period of the MCU to explore, and Danvers might just be the leading lady to do that. 

China National Opera House Symphony Orchestra

NCPA. 7.30pm. Wed 13. 80-400RMB. 

Established in 1952, the China National Opera House (CNOH) has won over 100 national-level awards and has performed around the world. This week, the CNOH Symphony Orchestra takes the stage with conductor Yang Yang leading the performers in renditions of Mahler and Schubert.

Cendrillon

NCPA. 7.30pm. Thu 14-Sat 16. 160-880RMB. 

Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, Monaco's national ballet company, heads to Beijing with Jean-Christophe Maillot's unsentimental take on Cinderella. Turning the classic fairytale on its head and emphasising the emotional journey of the tale, Maillot's simple and poignant ballet has toured the world, with music by Prokofiev and a set by Ernest Pignon-Ernest.

London Philharmonic Orchestra

NCPA. 7.30pm. Thu 14. 280-1,680RMB. 

Ever watched The Lord of the Rings trilogy? If so, then you've heard the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Ever since it first performed at Southbank Centre’s Royal Philharmonic at 1951, the London Philharmonic Orchestra has become one the most reputable orchestras in the world. The orchestra is led by conductor Vladimir Jurowski who is known worldwide for his musicianship. Hear them play Strauss, Mendelssohn and Brahms this week. 

China National Symphony Orchestra

NCPA. 7.30pm. Sun 17. 100-300RMB. 

Led by Thomas Sanderling, the China National Symphony Orchestra tours all over the globe, celebrating art and music through a broad range of works. This weekend, they return to Beijing playing Mozart and Shostakovich. 

Exhibition: Lost Wings by Julia Hofmann

Café Zarah. Thu 14 Mar-Wed 17 Apr. Free. 

Lost Wings relates to small children’s natural attitude to life: the almost infinite joy, absorbing new experiences like a sponge, the anger that comes when it comes and goes when it goes. Through multiple exposure and selective focus, a poetic reality is created which portrays these strong feelings. The observation of the habits of children sent the photographer on a search for the feelings of her own childhood. She questions how and why one loses the authenticity towards one’s own feelings. The project deliberately leaves space to provoke reflections about oneself, society, children, about education and relation. Exhibition Opening: Friday 15 March, 7pm.

Civilization: The Way We Live Now

UCCA. Until Sun 19 May. 100RMB. 

Civilization: The Way We Live Now explores contemporary life through the works of over 120 renowned photographic artists. The exhibition takes you through the last two decades to witness the changes and patterns seen throughout our world. 

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

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