20 fantastic 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 drinking without doing any of the above, there's sure to be something for you.

The Leftover Monologues

IdeaPod at Langyuan Vintage. 7.30pm. Fri 26. 70RMB.

First popularised over a decade ago, 'leftover women' or shengnü (剩女), is an epithet commonly ascribed to Chinese women in their late twenties (and beyond) who remain unmarried. In a similar manner to the Vagina Monologues, this play unites eight Chinese voices in a stirring evening of entertainment and insight into the complexities of love, sex and marriage in China – all while giving you an earful of the triumphs, travails and tribulations of being/fearing/or totally loving being a leftover. Guests include Nicole Sun, Q Shao, Roseann Lake and more.

Kente & Silk: Masterclass workshop on Ethiopian coffee

Camera Stylo. 2.30pm. Sat 27. 100RMB.

This weekend, head to Camera Stylo's rooftop for an intimate afternoon where you’ll be taught a lesson in traditional Ethiopian coffee-making, including essentials such as roasting coffee beans, cupping and making bespoke coffee cocktails. Don’t miss this chance to learn from Abi, one of China’s best Ethiopian coffee experts. Spaces are limited, so sign up quickly.

Yoga in the Park

Chaoyang Park. 9.30am. Every Sun. 50RMB.

Every Sunday until October, the team at Taozi Tree Yoga invites the community for a morning of yoga in the midst of nature. Relax and exercise with the family, kids included, then head to Moka Bros Solana afterwards for a healthy lunch where participants will also receive 15 percent off. Led by Theresa of Taozi Tree Yoga, this weekly event has been running for over six years. For more information, click here.    

Arcade by Hatchery closing party

Arcade by Hatchery. From 7pm. Fri 26. By dish.

Arcade by Hatchery is closing its doors, and they're throwing one final blow-out in celebration. Head on down to the CBD for a bunch of food and drink specials, including buy one, get one free on their food menu, as well as fries with chicken salt for 15RMB, dan dan nachos for 35RMB, chicken shawarma for 45RMB and more. Booze deals include 15RMB Tsingtao and Corona beers, 30RMB house mixers, 40RMB house wines and five shots of your premium booze of choice for 120RMB. For more information, click here.

Elodie Jacot-Manesse at TRB Forbidden City

TRB Forbidden City. Various. Fri 26-Sun 28. 388-588RMB (lunch); 688-988RMB (dinner). Prices subject to service charge.

In collaboration with the Embassy of Switzerland, TRB Forbidden City is hosting guest chef Elodie Jacot-Manesse as she cooks an exclusive menu showcasing modern Swiss gastronomy. The youngest and first female chef to win the prestigious Cuisinier d'Or competition in 2017, Jacot-Manesse currently works alongside three Michelin-starred chef Franck Giovannini of the Restaurant de l'Hôtel De Ville in Crissier and heads the Koch Culinary Academy B Violier. For more information, click here.

Vegan Outreach Dinner

Obentos Lido. 7pm. Sun 28. 132RMB. 

Vegan Outreach meals were created with the goal of helping make Western restaurants in Beijing become more vegan-friendly. This April's meal will feature a hearty sharing menu from Obentos, including a summer sukiyaki hotpot with udon noodles, grilled sesame tofu with fresh asparagus and wasabi sesame, a black rice and quinoa dessert with mango sorbet, plus more.  Places are limited to 40 spots, so registration and pre-payment are a must.

St George's Day Dinner

The Westin Beijing Chaoyang. 6.30pm. Sat 27. 900RMB.

For more than a decade, the St George's Day Dinner has been celebrating one of England's biggest holidays in Beijing. An annual networking and charity event, this year's bash is gearing up to be a full-blown English affair, featuring plenty of comedy and banter, a traditional roast and, of course, booze. For more information, click here.

Warbly Jets

Yue Space. 9pm. Sat 27. 220RMB; 160RMB (presale). 

LA-based band Warbly Jets burst on the scene in 2016 with their rockin' debut single 'Alive'. With the clear goal of being rock trailblazers rather than just another '60s-esque psyche band in LA's over-saturated scene, the foursome create massive rock 'n' roll melodies full of '90s-era grunge, skittish beats and sharp synth lines.

Sofar Sounds: Escape to Utopia

798 Art District. 2.30pm. Sat 27. 100RMB. 

The secret, intimate gig series returns for another month – this time at 798 Art District. Join them on Saturday to experience incredible live music in an industrial Bauhaus-style factory. Apply for tickets online (www.sofarsounds.com/beijing).

Sugar Blue

Blue Note. 7.30pm. Sat 27-Sun 28. 400RMB (central seat); 300RMB (side seat).

Touted by Rolling Stone as 'one of the foremost harmonica players of our times', Sugar Blue's style is instantly recognizable for its soaring trills, flamboyant flourishes and swooping glissandos. On the advice of pianist Memphis Slim, he moved to Paris, France where he met the Rolling Stones who used his unmistakable sound to good advantage on three of their albums: that’s Sugar Blue’s harmonica blasting on their ’78 platinum disco hit Miss You. Since then, he's released numerous albums, toured with Willie Dixon’s Chicago Blues All Stars, formed his own band and won a Grammy in 1985 for his contribution to the album Blues Explosion recorded live at the Montreux Jazz Festival.

Descendents 

Mao Livehouse Wukesong. 9pm. Sun 28. 330RMB; 280RMB (presale).

The Descendents have been delivering 90-second fastballs of buzzed-up bubble gum punk off and on since the late '70s. The band went on several extended hiatuses in the '90s and aughts; their latest, excellent LP from 2016, Hypercaffium Spazzinate, is just their third in three decades­. Catch the band that may (or may not) have created pop-punk as they hit up Beijing.

One-Hit Wonders Party

Mosto. From 9pm. Fri 26. Free.

Mosto’s back at it again with another DJ party this Friday. This time they’re celebrating their favourite one-hit wonders, so head on over to jam out to the hits you can’t seem to forget, by artists you can't seem to remember – we've personally got our fingers crossed for 'Take on Me', 'Tubthumping' and 'MmmBop'. Sip on 40RMB happy hour drinks from 9-11pm.

Jayda G

Zhao Dai. From 10pm. Fri 26. TBC.

Jayda G, the Canadian spinner who heads up the Freakout Cult label, knows the deal: being a DJ means facilitating fun. Expect plenty of killer beats, euphoric music and an infectious vibe that'll have you smiling. Catch her in Beijing with Darcy, Slowcook and Kenkeni supporting.

Migas Mercado balcony opening

Migas Mercado. From 10pm. Fri 26-Sat 27. Free.

The weather's finally warming up, so you know what that means: the return of raucous late-night parties on Migas Mercado's balcony. Join them as they host a circus-themed rave on Friday (think clowns, balloons, performances and face painting), followed by a night of funk, soul and hip-hop with DJ Cad73 on Saturday.

Arjun Vagale

Lantern. From 10pm. Sat 27. 80RMB; 50RMB (presale).

Widely celebrated as the pioneer of techno in India, Arjun Vagale steers the course of the country's expanding underground electronic movement. Known for his intense, driven and raw sound, Vagale is one of the most prolific artists to come out of Asia, and as one of India’s most acclaimed DJs, his cutting-edge productions have seen a massive global reach.

Avengers: Endgame

On general release now.

It's here. It's finally here. A staggering 21 films in the making, Endgame marks the final film in Phase 3 of Marvel's juggernaut franchise. Picking up after the events of Avengers: Infinity War, the universe is in ruins. With the help of their allies, the Avengers assemble once more in order to undo Thanos' actions and restore order to the universe.

Film screening: RiverBlue

The Bookworm. 8pm. Sun 28. 70RMB; 50RMB (presale).

Can fashion save the planet? The Bookworm's follow-up to Tuesday's screening of The True Cost follows international river conservationist Mark Angelo as he spans the globe to infiltrate one of the world's most pollutive industries, fashion. To book your spot, click here.

Land of the Lustrous

UCCA Dune. Until Sep 8. TBC.

The summer exhibition at UCCA's seaside venue in Beidaihe, Land of the Lustrous aims to reignite viewers' dormant cultural memories. The most ordinary of objects, stone has nevertheless enjoyed pride of place in the founding myths of numerous civilisations. In subsequent folklore, its role has continuously changed, adapting to the particular cultural and social realities of each era. Stone can serve as a tablet for scripture, the birthplace of a deity, a protective talisman for the body, and a site for the gaze to fix itself. Each artwork in this exhibition relates – materially or formally – to stone, approaching this age-old material with fresh perspectives.

Brendan McCumstie: Blue Moon

JITU Creative Space. Until Sep 8. Free.

Ever since the beginning of humankind’s earliest languages and cave paintings, people have held a deep affinity towards the various rotating discs seen in the sky. In this solo exhibition, Australian artist Brendan McCumstie pays tribute to the moon with a series of paintings, collages and cyanotype prints. 

Russian State Ballet: The Sleeping Beauty

Beijing Century Theatre. 7.30pm. Fri 26. 80-880RMB. 

Based on the fairytale by Charles Perrault and the Brothers Grimm, magical ballet The Sleeping Beauty tells the classic tale of princess Aurora, cursed by sorceress Carabosse to remain asleep after pricking her finger on her sixteenth birthday. Featuring charming fairies, Tchaikovsky's celebrated score and a spell-shattering kiss, The Sleeping Beauty is a fairytale ballet for the whole family.

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

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