21 brilliant things to do in Beijing this weekend

Your weekend guide to the best of Beijing

We're hoping that as St Patrick's Day turns city revellers green this weekend, this fantastic weather holds up and the sky remains its gorgeous Beijing blue. 

And, in case you didn't know, today is Pi (π) Day. For the uninitiated, March 14 – or 3.14 – is a day to celebrate the mathematical term for the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter. So, if you want to get in on yet another weird day, why not get one of Beijing's best pizza's tonight to celebrate the irrational. 

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.

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.

2019 BDMG Graffiti Art Festival

Uniquespace. 3pm. Fri 15. Free. 

Themed 'Bombing & Free' and organised by BDMG, the 2019 Graffiti Art Festival opens this Friday. BDMG is an abbreviation of Breaking, DJ, MC and Graffiti. Having already held exhibitions in Xi’an, Gansu and Hokkaido, BDMG's upcoming exhibition in Beijing will exhibit well-known graffiti artists from China, the UK, Canada, Japan and more. The opening night on Friday 15 will be comprised of two events at the two different sections of Uniquespace. The first event (3-5pm) features live graffiti, skateboarding, converted cars and a DJ. The second event (5-8pm) will bring in cocktails, breakdancing, more live graffiti and even more great music and fun to be had. For more information, click here.

St Patrick's Day

Around Beijing. Fri 15-Sun 17. 

Yes, it's that time of the year again. The smog lifts a little, the flowers are about to blossom and we all gather to celebrate a fifth-century Romano-British sheepherder. Honour the great man by cracking out the green velour, rinsing out that stolen Guinness mug from last year and checking out Time Out Beijing's recommendations for celebrating St Patrick's Day in the capital.

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, and read our best of the fest. 

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.

Store closing party at The Bulk House

The Bulk House. 5pm. Sat 16. Free. 

Head on down to say goodbye to The Bulk House's physical store at their closing party. They're moving on to bigger and better things with their zero waste products, but are hosting a final shindig with drinks and snacks (but no plastic!). Take some friends, head over with food or drinks, but remember, no plastics good folks. For all the info, click here. 

Fashion Flea Market

The SLab. 3pm. Sun 17. Free. 

The SLab is hosting a Fashion Flea Market with free entrance for buyers and a 50RMB fee for sellers. Buy, sell or swap clothing, jewellery, accessories, bags, shoes, beauty products and so much more. Anything left over will be donated to Roundabout, so feel free to leave things behind for donation.

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. And, you can win a free dinner for two. 

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 nine 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 nine pies, a free cocktail and, of course, the right to vote. Click here for more information.

Four Get Me a Nots

School Bar. 9pm. Thu 14. 120RMB; 100RMB (presale).

Formed in 2004 in Japan, long-time Japanese pop-punk, J-punk trio Four Get Me a Nots are here for a midweek treat. Getting the evening started and setting the mood would be melodic punk newcomers Radical Spinz and Chinese skate-punk heroes Larry's Pizza. For more information and to get tickets, click here. 

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.

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 - not to mention the rest of the world.

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. 

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.

Marina Abramović

Light Society. Fri 15 Mar-Sat 15 Jun. 50RMB. 

Marina Abramović, a Serbian performance artist who works with video, photographs, sculpture and more, has been exploring feminist and body art for over 40 years. Her pieces challenge the relationship between artist and viewer, calling for her audiences to reinterpret the possibilities and limitations of the body and mind. This exhibition will showcase new and key works – some of which have never before been shown in China.

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

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