22 brilliant 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 just plain old eating and drinking, there's sure to be something for you. Earth Day's also just 'round the corner (Monday April 22), so keep your eyes peeled for our upcoming round-up of all the brilliant eco-friendly events taking place around the city.

The Bookworm Eco Spring Fair

The Bookworm. Noon. Sun 21. Free.

This weekend, The Bookworm and The Bulk House are teaming up to honour Earth Day by holding a free pop-up eco market, with the goal of spreading the word about green consumption and zero waste. Thirty-five vendors will be selling their products, ranging from fine art, handicrafts, fashion to organic food. Show your support for this brilliant movement by shopping from local vendors and spreading the word about green consumption and zero waste.

Adam Hamilton

The Bookworm. 8pm. Sun 21. 150RMB; 120RMB (presale).

Mamahuhu's Adam Hamilton, known for renting a Chinese dad for a day, as well as for Hulu's Coming to the Stage and TBS' Drop The Mic, headlines The Bookworm. His stand-up comedy consists of hilarious observations about China, cross-cultural comedy, family and video games – so something for everyone, really. Get your tickets here.

Film and board game night

Camera Stylo. 7.30pm. Fri 19. Free.

This Friday, Camera Stylo returns for another film and board game night. Kicking off with beer and cocktails followed by a screening of Clue, head on over afterwards to Camera Stylo's new hangout room to play some table-top games. There will be several tables so multiple games can take place. Have a specific game you'd like to play? Bring it along – the more games, the merrier. To register, click here.

Roundabout Book Fair

Beijing Chaoyang Kaiwen Academy. From 10am. Sat 20. Free.

Have your fill of books while supporting a good cause at Roundabout's upcoming book fair at the Kaiwen Academy Arts Centre, where proceeds go to helping children in need (and maybe someone's life). Bring your unwanted books as well.

Xiaopu Village street art market

Cultural Keys. From 11am. Every Saturday. Free.

Have 798 and Nanluoguxiang become too touristy for you? Head out of the city and see something different at Xiaopu Art Village's weekly street market. The market will be held on the streets outside Chuzou Café until October, with around 30 local vendors selling all kinds of products ranging from handmade soap to vintage bric-a-brac. It's far, but definitely worth a visit if you're out by Songzhuang Art District. For more information, add AJ Donnelly on WeChat (ID: AJDonnelly).

Blackmore wagyu beef at Cépe

Cépe. From 11.30am. Until Tue Apr 30. 788RMB (three courses); 1,288RMB (five courses).

Five generations ago, the Blackmore family introduced three pure wagyu breeds from Japan to Australia in 1988 and, through patience and determination, eventually perfected the breeding process. Each month, only roughly fifty cows are on offer, making the beef exceptionally rare. This April, Cépe will be featuring the Blackmore family ranch's premium M9 Australian black wagyu in a one-off menu, served during both lunch and dinner. Get it while you can.

Tour de Jing 2019

The Rug Café (WF Central). 1pm. Sun 21. Free.

Forget the Tour de France, embark on the only tour that counts as Jing A's epic annual beer crawl returns. The mission is simple: hop on a bike, tricycle or scooter and follow a boozy mob on a cheerful migration through the hutongs. Each location will have a different Jing A brew on tap for 25RMB during each hour-long stop. Collect a stamp at each stop when you buy a beer, and if you've collected all six at the end you'll get a Jing A bottle koozie to take home. Find the full schedule here.

Suru Suru pop-up

Hatchery Arcade. From 10.30am. Fri 19-Sun 21. By dish.

Suru Suru returns to Hatchery this weekend with a menu that includes Vietnamese vermicelli with topping options such as caramel pork belly, lemongrass chicken, marinated beef fillet, fish and prawn balls, smoked tofu and mushroom patties. At 42RMB for a basic bowl, nab yourself authentic Vietnamese noodles out in the CBD.

Uncorked

The Opposite House. 3pm. Sat 20. 248RMB.

From Slovenia to Switzerland to the Czech Republic, join The Opposite House's head sommelier Ashley Gao as she takes you through the wines of middle and eastern Europe. Is it wine o'clock yet?

The Baylor Project

Blue Note. 6.30pm. Sat 20-Sun 21. 220-420RMB.

The Baylor Project is made up of husband-and-wife team Marcus and Jean Baylor. Marcus, former Yellowjackets drummer, and Jean, singer extraordinaire, create jazzy gospel and soul sounds, with two Grammy nominations already under their belts for Best Traditional R&B Performance and Best Jazz Vocal Album.

Record Store Day compilation party

Yue Space. 9.30pm. Sun 21. 100RMB; 80RMB (presale).

In celebration of Record Store Day last week, Beijing-based indie label Maybe Mars is releasing a special compilation album featuring three seven-inch vinyls, each containing two brand new singles from PK14, Lonely Leary, Dear Eloise and Streets Kill Strange Animals. To mark the occasion, they'll be throwing one hell of a release show at Yue Space with performances from Lonely Leary, Streets Kill Strange Animals and newly signed Xinxiang post-punk band Muzzy Mum. 

Benjamin Damage

Dada. 10.30pm. Fri 19. 80RMB.

Since relocating to techno-obsessed Berlin in 2011, Benjamin Damage's music has been a soundtrack to summer music festivals all over the world. Combining early rave, jungle and '90s house beats, Damage's non-linear approach to techno delivers a truly innovative performance of modern electronic music.

Yaass Queen R&B party

Modernista. 9pm. Sat 20. 100RMB; 80RMB (presale). 

R&B party collective Sugar House returns to doing what it does best with a killer night of beats at Modernista this 4/20. A celebration of the kickass ladies of '90s, '00s and present-day R&B, expect to hear the likes of Lauryn Hill, Aaliyah, Mariah Carey and loads more. Get your tickets here, plus go into the running to win tickets here.

Orphx

Lantern. 10.30pm. Sat 20. 80RMB; 50RMB (presale).

One of the most highly respected acts in both techno and industrial circles, Orphx (Rich Oddie and Christina Sealey) have been refining their signature fusion of hypnotic rhythms and experimental noise for years. Having performed around the world at celebrated venues like Berghain and Tresor, they head to Beijing this weekend.

Beijing International Film Festival

Cinemas around Beijing. Until Sat 20.

Coming to a close this Saturday, the Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF) spans 30 theatres and 58 screens across the capital, 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. Click here for our full guide.

Wonder Park

On general release from Fri 19.

Wonder Park tells the heart-warming story of a wildly creative young girl called June (Sofia Mali and Brianna Denski). After she stumbles across an amusement park in disarray, she realises the park and all of its incredible creatures are part of her imagination, leaving it up to her to reestablish the wonder in Wonderland.

Shazam!

On general release now.

If you think superhero movies are essentially about overgrown children (boys, to be exact, despite some recent lip service to the contrary), Shazam! is here to prove you absolutely right. Be ready, though, for it to win you over with its goofy Freaky Friday-ness: It’s a story in which young Billy Batson (Asher Angel), a wayward 14-year-old foster kid with serious abandonment issues, suddenly becomes a full-size man with abnormally pumped biceps, lightning-spouting fingers, a ridiculous white cape and a giggly sense of invincibility.To read our full review, click here.

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.

Valery Afanassiev

NCPA. 7.30pm. Sun 21. 50-480RMB.

Valery Afanassiev, a Russian pianist, writer and conductor, won the Concours Reine Elisabeth piano competition in Belgium in 1970 as well as the Bach Competition in Germany in 1968. Since then, he's continued to make a name for himself around the world, partnering with some of classical music's greatest players. Join the piano virtuoso as he performs a Schubert-only programme this Sunday.

TNT Theatre: A Midsummer Night's Dream

Nine Theater. 7.30pm. Thu 18-Sat 20. 80-380RMB. 

The world's most mobile Shakespeare company is back, with another high-octane, rapid-transit version of the Bard's classic comedy. TNT's talented, versatile casts have made minimalism an art form; this is a must for any Shakespeare lover, from neophyte to expert.

Screening: The Globe Theatre's Twelfth Night

The Bookworm. 7pm. Fri 19. 160RMB; 120RMB (presale).

England's iconic Globe Theatre revisits its award-winning adaptation of Twelfth Night with an all-male Original Practices production, exploring the clothing, music, dance and settings that may have been used at The Globe in 1601. Three-time Tony Award winner, and the Globe's first Artistic Director, Mark Rylance, reprises his performance as Olivia in this revival production, ten years after its original premiere at The Globe. Get your tickets to The Bookworm's screening here.

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

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