26 amazing things to do in Beijing this weekend

Your weekend guide to the best of Beijing

Enjoy your weekend with this incredible range of events. Whether you like art, classical music, markets or all of the above, there's something for you.

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. 

Warriors, Workers, and Wanderers: The Tiananmen Northern Trail

Tiananmen Square. 10am. Fri 12. 300RMB. 

This walk begins at Wangfujing, the longtime commercial heart of Beijing, and then traverses the Imperial Quarter, (including) the Forbidden City and some of the most important monuments and temples in the old capital. While this walk doesn’t go into the Forbidden City, it will be along the palace moat and walls while you visit the old Ancestral Temple, the Altar of Grain and Soil (now a park named for revolutionary leader Sun Yat-sen), before heading back past Tiananmen and the portrait of Chairman Mao. For more information and to get tickets, visit beijingbyfoot.com. 

Beijing Postcards Historical Pub Quiz

The Bookworm. 7.30pm. Fri 12. 30RMB. 

This quiz is part talk, part game show. Whether you're a history buff or not, join in and get to really know Beijing. With all questions related to the wonderful ancient capital, the quiz masters strive to inspire curiosity and find new perspectives on this fascinating city. The topics are rooted in archival research done by Beijing Postcards; answers come from dusty archives, not Wikipedia. But don’t be afraid – questions are multiple-choice, so everybody has a chance.

Beijing Arrivals 

Beijing Postcards. 3pm. Sat 13. 300RMB. 

For hundreds of years, Dashilar was the ever-simmering melting pot of the capital and was the place where people would first enter Beijing. Beijing Arrivals is a combined walk and talk through this fascinating part of the city. For more information and to get tickets, visit bjpostcards.com.

Rumble in the Jumble

Modernista. Noon. Sat 13. Free.

This month's market is themed Blue Skies bazaar and is dedicated to those at work protecting our environment. Get ready to meet vendors specially selected to fit this theme, and expect hand-made accessories and a variety of knick-knacks including (but not limited to) vintage clothing, hand-beaded jewellery, tasty vegan treats, home remedies, organic Ethiopian coffees and more.

Car Boot Sale

BSB Shunyi. 10am. Sun 14. Free. 

Experience a classic British car boot sale at the British School of Beijing (Shunyi) this Sunday. While the stores are likely not actually car boots, expect vendors selling second-hand and new goods, with Roundabout helping to run the show. 

Game of Thrones viewing in Beijing

Venues around Beijing. From Mon 15. 

After almost two years away, Game of Thrones’ final season is now just around the corner, airing on April 14 (9pm US time) on HBO – that's 9am Monday 15 for us. The ultimate finale to eight years of intense plot twists, castle-takeovers and, of course, blood and gore (we're still not over the Red Wedding), we'll finally get some answers as to who'll end up on the Iron Throne and whether the White Walkers will triumph with their invasion of the Seven Kingdoms. Find out where to watch the premiere as well as the rest of season 8 in Beijing here. 

Xian Beer Olympics

Xian, East Hotel. 3pm. Sat 13. 300-600RMB. 

It's back. The Xian Beer Olympics returns for a second year this April with the chance for you and your team to beat those other pesky drinkers at games of consumption. Assemble a team of three sporting beer drinkers and prepare yourself for an afternoon of feats of strength, tests of beer knowledge, contests of speed and agility, artistic acumen, flip cup finesse and of course ping pong prominence.

Entry to the Beer Olympics is free, however the competition itself is priced at 600RMB for teams of three, while keen observers (and beer lovers) can also enjoy free-flow beer and pizza for four hours for 300RMB. Stay for the afterparty that begins at 8pm. 

Kempinski Vienna Ball

Kempinski Hotel. 6pm. Sat 13. 1,580RMB. 

The Kempinski Vienna Ball 2019 has everything you love about a classic ball: it'll feature big ball gowns, a Viennese orchestra, operettas, a four-course gala meal, a debutante committee, wine gardens and coffee houses. Alan Wu, star presenter of The Amazing Race Asia will be hosting the event. 

Pyjama Party

Jing A. 11am. Sun 14. 95RMB. 

Head to Jing A this Sunday for a pyjama party with free-flow pancakes alongside the launch of their collaboration coffee stout cheekily named Early Morning Regrets. Try out the 12.6 percent imperial stout while wearing your favourite PJs, and get the first glass and free-flow pancakes for just 95RMB.

Jing Sing 

Modernista. 9pm. Thu 11. Free. 

Beijing's one and only a cappella choir Jing Sing showcase their eclectic selection of vocals with songs ranging from last year's pop hits to timeless doo-wop classics and some extra Hakuna Matata fun. Bring your friends, grab a drink and have an early weekend together at Modernista.

Wild Nothing

Omni Space. 8.30pm. Fri 12. 360RMB; 280RMB (presale). 

The mastermind behind Wild Nothing, American Jack Tatum, brings his iconic intimacy and human touch to the sonic soundscapes of the latest album Indigo. He blends technology and humanity in his synthy, dream pop songs.

W&W

One Third. From 9pm. Fri 12. 200RMB.

Better known as W&W, Dutch DJs and producers Willem van Hanegem and Wardt van der Harst have worked with the likes of Vinai, Hardwell and Armin van Buuren. Currently ranked number 14 on DJ Mag's Top 100 DJs list, W&W play sets that combine the melodic elements of trance with electro and progressive house.

Salvatore Ganacci + Garmiani 

Sir Teen. From 9pm. Fri 12. 120RMB. 

The Swedish experimenter is back, with bolder, bigger beats than ever. Known for his heavy-hitting club hits such as 'Dive' and 'Jook It', Salvatore returns to the capital with show-stopping new tunes to get you dancing. He's joined on Friday by the hip-hop-influenced, fast-paced mixer and fellow Swede Garmiani.  

Fedde Le Grand

One Third. From 9pm. Sat 13. 150RMB.

Iconic Dutch house DJ and producer Fedde Le Grand is known for the absolute bangers 'Put Your Hands Up 4 Detroit', 'Let Me Think About It' and 'So Much Love'. A perennial headliner at EDM festivals such as Ultra Music Festival and Tomorrowland, Le Grand's been listed on the DJ Mag Top 100 DJ's List every year since debuting back in 2007.

Dr Motte

Lantern. From 10pm. Sat 13. 100RMB; 70RMB (presale). 

Creator of the Love Parade, Dr Motte has become a symbol of German dance culture, and some say also for the reunification of Berlin. Whatever he's a symbol for, catch him this Saturday for his Beijing debut. Dr Motte comes to China courtesy of FakeMusicMedia as part of the lead-up to the second annual WISE event next May.

BimBamBoom

Omni Space. 8pm. Sun 14. 120RMB. 

Led by one of Japan’s best-known drummers, Miyoko Yamaguchi, BimBamBoom is a largely instrumental band, punctuated with harmonious shouts and cheers. Drawing inspiration from the R&B and funk scenes of New Orleans, Philadelphia and Memphis, they have delicately moulded their own brand of party music. 

Beijing International Film Festival

Cinemas around Beijing. From Sat 13. 

The Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF) kicks off this year on April 13 and runs until April 20. This annual film showcase spans 30 theatres and 58 screens across Beijing, featuring the best of international and Chinese films. With 261 films to catch, this year’s film festival covers all bases from blockbuster hits to arthouse films and a wide range of genres from thrillers to documentaries. Check out our pick of flicks here. 

Tall Tales from the Magical Kingdom of Antoon Krings

On general release from Sat 13. 

Apollo (Justin Long), a cricket with a past of being an outsider and a drifter, arrives in a small village preparing for the queen bee's jubilee, unknowingly becoming a target for jealous rivals to the throne. The sleepy kingdom is thrown into disarray when the queen (Kate Mara) is kidnapped and Apollo is set up for the crime. Original language: French.

Double screening: 73 Cows & Swine

Camera Stylo. 3pm. Sat 13. 35RMB. 

Vegans of Beijing and Towards a Compassionate Nation (TACN) host a double screening of award-winning films that speak to the fight for animal rights and the much-needed change many around our world demand. The films, 73 Cows and Swine, will be shown back-to-back, so head on down to learn more and support the movement. For more information and to get tickets, click here.

Shazam!

On general release now. 

Shazam! follows foster kid Billy Batson who can turn into the adult superhero Shazam (Zachary Levi) just at the utterance of that one word, Shazam! However, Batson needs to master his powers (and puberty) to fight the evil plan of Dr Thaddeus Sivana (Mark Strong).

Louise Bourgeois: The Eternal Thread

Collection The Easton Foundation © The Easton Foundation/VAGA, NY, Photo: JJYPHOTO

Song Art Museum. Until Sun Jun 23. 

Louise Bourgeois is a French-American artist known worldwide for her large-scale sculptures and installations. Her incredible work has been exhibited at renowned galleries since 1947, including at Tate Modern, New York's Guggenheim and the Met. Her first large-scale exhibition in China, The Eternal Thread showcases many pieces of her work, symbolically linked through an uncut thread. See major works from the entirety of Bourgeois’ illustrious career, including the monumental spider sculpture Maman.

More art to see this weekend

With the weather warming up, embrace the lovely Beijing spring days with a trip out to warm up your mind. These ongoing art exhibitions around the city showcase the very best of international and local talent.

Un Ballo in Maschera

NCPA. 7pm. Wed 10-Sun 14. 100-680RMB. 

Un Ballo in Maschera (A Masked Ball) is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi, telling the story of the assassination of King Gustav III of Sweden – who was killed during a political conspiracy while attending a masked ball. The opera, directed by Huge De Ana, returns to the Beijing stage after numerous successful runs in the past.

China National Opera House Symphony Orchestra

NCPA. 7.30pm. Thu 11. 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 Yuan Ding leading the performers.

The Cleveland Orchestra

NCPA. 7.30pm. Fri 12-Sat 13. 980-1,680RMB. 

Founded in 1918, The Cleveland Orchestra celebrated 100 years of concerts last season. Under the leadership of Franz Welser-Möst, the orchestra has become one of the most sought-after performing ensembles in the world. They head to Beijing with Grammy-winning Russian pianist Daniil Trifonov.

Beijing Symphony Orchestra 

NCPA. 7.30pm. Sun 14. 80-400RMB. 

Renowned for the depth of its Western and Chinese repertoire, the Beijing Symphony Orchestra performs a programme of renditions from Chopin and Bartok, lead by acclaimed conductor Muhai Tang.

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

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