25 brilliant things to do in Beijing this week

Your weekly guide to the best of Beijing

Between Star Wars Day (May the Fourth be with you), the May Day holiday and Cinco de Mayo, it's shaping up to be one helluva week here in Beijing. Safe travels to those of you heading out of town, but for those of you staying in the capital, there's plenty to keep you occupied over the next seven days.

Beijing Horticultural Expo

Beijing International Horticultural Exhibition. From 8am. Until Oct 7. 160RMB (weekends); 120RMB (weekdays).

Officially taking up the mantle of the world's largest-ever gardening show, the Beijing Horticultural Expo kicked off today (Mon 29) out in Yanqing district. Working off the slogan 'Live Green, Live Better', the expo is reportedly China's largest international event since the 2008 Olympics and features a staggering array of plants, pavilions and interactive exhibits. The expo also plans to host a range of public events, thematic symposia and cultural performances. For more information, scan the QR code below.

Farm to Neighbors: Back to the Hutong

Port Apartments (Beiluoguxiang). From noon. Fri 3-Sat 4. Free.

Farm to Neighbors is back, this time bringing its beloved farmers' market to the traditional hutongs of Beijing. Browse from a wide range of locally produced goods, including artisanal cheeses, vegan desserts, homemade rice wine, beautifully crafted ceramics and jewellery. For more information, click here.

Camera Stylo vintage market

Camera Stylo. From 1.30pm. Fri 3. Free.

Trying to find somewhere unique to hang during the Labour Day holiday? Then try your luck at Camera Stylo's vintage market and find something special among the sea of knick-knacks being sold. With over 20 vendors displaying their wares, expect to find everything from vintage clothing, jewellery, antiques, cameras and handmade crafts. There'll even be an on-site body piercer (if the mood strikes) plus an artist drawing portraits. Every three hours, Camera Stylo will also be presenting a best-dressed award to the guest with the best vintage outfit, along with a 200RMB cash prize at the vintage clothing shop and a drink on the house. Stick around till 8pm for a film screening on the rooftop terrace. For more information, click here.

May Fourth and the Birth of Modern China: Lecture and Discussion

The Hutong. 2pm. Sat 4. 60RMB; 40RMB (members of The Hutong).

This May 4, meet the famous figures and icons of the New Culture Movement and get to know the story behind the intellectual revolution. Why was the May Fourth era so important? Why was it such an intellectually dynamic period? How did the May Fourth Demonstrations of 1919 change the intellectual climate and set the stages for the political divisions which would soon tear China apart? Join writer, history teacher and storyteller Jeremiah Jenne for a special lecture and discussion commemorating the May Fourth movement.

Visual Poetry Network

Aotu Studio. 3.30pm. Sat 4. 60RMB; 40RMB (presale).

Spittoon, along with the newly renovated Aotu Studio, invites everyone to take part and watch different collaborative mediums – including music, photography and multimedia – that will present poetry in a more visual form. Join Spanish writer and journalist Jaime Santirso, British poet Matthew Byrne, musician David Bond and loads more as they take part in a night of visual storytelling.

Cinco de Gayo

El Nido at The Other Place. From 2pm. Sat 4. Free.

Celebrate gay May with 'Murrica and friends as they culturally appropriate the Mexican holiday in a gay theme, all set within a traditional hutong courtyard. With special promotions like six shots of tequila for 100RMB, 30RMB pints and 15RMB tacos, bring your friends over to El Nido at The Other Place from 2pm onwards on May 4 for a great time out.

Cinco de Mesh

Mesh. From 4pm. Sat 4. Free. 

On the other side of town, Mesh's Cinco de Mayo celebrations feature plenty of craft beer, music, dancing and complimentary bites. Enjoy beers from Slow Boat, cocktails and tequila (of course) all for 40RMB.

Cinco de Mayo at Lucky Lopez

Lucky Lopez. From 11am. Sat 4. Free. 

What better way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo than to sit back, relax and soak up drinks with Lucky Lopez's fiesta fare? Enjoy buy one, get one free on bottled beer as well as 20 percent off margaritas and beer on tap, all while noshing on burritos and tacos.

Cinco de Mayo at Home Plate

Home Plate. All day. Fri 3-Sun 5. Free.

Had enough Cinco de Mayo deals yet? We thought not. Barbecue joint Home Plate's going all out this weekend with three (!) days of boozy deals, running all day and night. Head on over for happy hour on beergaritas and frozen margaritas, plus receive two free barbecue tacos with every pitcher of margaritas. Barbecue tacos are also 20RMB for one and 55RMB for three. 

Eli Degibri Quartet

Blue Note. 7.30pm. Thu 2-Fri 3. 400RMB (table seat); 300RMB (side seat).

Eli Degibri, an Israeli jazz saxophonist, composer and arranger, has performed with some serious names, including Herbie Hancock, Al Foster, Brad Mehldau and Ron Carter. He heads to Beijing with Tom Oren (piano), Tamir Shmerling (bass) and Eviatar Slivnik (drums).

Eluveitie

Omni Space. 8.30pm. Fri 3. 420RMB; 350RMB (presale).

Self-described as 'the new wave of folk metal', Swiss band Eluveitie combine melodic death metal with traditional Celtic music – think electric guitars interlaced with bagpipes and the hurdy-gurdy. After more than 17 years on the scene (plus countless changes to their line-up), they released their eighth studio album Ategnatos this past April.

Tommy Emmanuel

Tango. 8pm. Fri 3. 520RMB.

Two-time Grammy nominee Tommy Emmanuel is an Australian steel guitar legend with a professional career that spans over four decades. First inspired by guitarist Chet Atkins, Emmanuel picked up a guitar aged four, learning to play by ear without any formal instruction. Renowned for his unique playing style called country fingerstyle, Emmanuel plays bass lines, chords, melodies and harmonies simultaneously by plucking guitar strings directly using all ten fingers. He returns to Tango this week with Andy McKee.

Default

Yue Space. 8.30pm. Fri 3. 100RMB; 80RMB (presale).

Beijing rockers Default released their first EP California Nebula in the spring of 2017 and were promptly signed to Shanghai-based label SJ-Records. Nominated for Best Indie-pop Album at Douban Music's Abbey Road Awards, Default then followed it up with appearances at Sound of the Xity and Midi Music Festival, as well as performances opening for Slowdive and The Bilinda Butchers. This year, Default are capitalising on their previous years' success by debuting their full-length album Life in a Vacuum, returning to the capital this week as part of their first ten-city national tour.

Steve Smith and Vital Information

Blue Note. 7.30pm. Sat 4-Sun 5. 400RMB (table seat); 300RMB (side seat).

Highly charged US fusion supergroup Vital Information have built up quite a reputation for negotiating tricksy time signatures, jazz-rock solos and all sorts of Yellowjackets-style funk. Former Journey drummer Steve Smith leads, with Baron Browne on bass, Mark Soskin on the keyboard and Vinny Valentino on guitar.

Boiler Room

Lantern. From 10.30pm. Tue 30. 100RMB (presale).

After two years exploring Chinese underground music, Boiler Room is back to catch up with the thriving scene in the People's Republic. Their first show back in Beijing connects the Chinese underground with two major electronic music hubs: New York and Berlin. Headlining is New Yorker Volvox (pictured above), whose dominance in the Brooklyn underground music scene is a force to be reckoned with. Also performing is Berlin-based rising star Fadi Mohem, along with Chinese DJs L+R Wang Lu, Sun Meng and Zhiqi. For more information or to purchase tickets, click here.

Franck Roger

Aurora. From 10pm. Tue 30. 100RMB. 

With a career stretching back to the late '90s, Franck Roger is an artist whose dedication to his craft has established him as one of Paris' leading lights. First starting out in 1997, by 2004 Franck gained worldwide recognition with his track 'No More Believe' made with M'Selem (featuring Chris Wonder). That very same year he would also go on to set up record label Real Tone with Lionel Marciano. His most recent project, Home Invasion, presents a raw, analogue sound, harking back to a time before technology dominated society.

Skrillex

Sir Teen. From 10pm. Thu 2. 580RMB. 

Love him or hate him, California's dubstep mastermind is not only an eight-time Grammy winner (thus having the most Grammys of any EDM artist, ever), but he's also something of an icon, worldwide, for most people. There's arguably also something strangely captivating about a guy with a stupid haircut at the centre of an ostentatious dance party. Get in on what is sure to be a night to remember.

Capernaum

On general release now.

A young boy, Zain, stands up in court in Lebanon. He has already done time for stabbing someone. Now he wants to sue his parents for giving him life. No one really knows how old he is, but a medical examiner estimates 12. Nadine Labaki’s drama might first seem like a satire – small children are jailed; others are married. But while there are elements of didactic political fable, there’s a heartbreaking realism at the root of this portrait of Lebanese poverty, which nevertheless thrills with compassion and heart.

See You Up There (Au revoir là-haut)

On general release from Tue 30.

Winner of five César awards, including Best Director, Best Adaptation and Best Cinematography, See You Up There starts a few days before the Armistice, when artist Édouard Péricourt saves accountant Albert Maillard's life. Condemned to live, the two misfits mount a scheme selling monuments of invented war heroes. Based on Pierre Lemaitre's 2013 novel The Great Swindle, this sumptuous period drama explores a society that wants to honour the dead but ends up forgetting the living.

May the Fourth Be With You

Camera Stylo. 8pm. Sat 4. Free. 

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away – or rather, this Saturday at Camera Stylo – celebrate Star Wars Day by catching a screening of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story while enjoying themed cocktails (discounts to anyone who turns up in a Star Wars costume!), followed by a Star Wars quiz to truly test your intergalactic knowledge. Camera Stylo's rooftop will also be open for a true night under the stars (weather permitting). For more information or 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 May 19. 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. 

Karen Souza

Beijing Concert Hall. 7.30pm. Tue 30. 180-680RMB.

You'd never know from her incredibly jazzy tones, but Karen Souza started her career providing vocals for EDM songs. She then went on to record covers of famous '70s and '80s songs on various album series. Heading to Beijing this April, Souza performs from her repertoire of hits at the Beijing Concert Hall.

Beijing Symphony Orchestra

NCPA. 7.30pm. Wed 1. 100-580RMB.

The country's first orchestra kicks off the May holiday with a concert at no less than China's top performing arts centre, the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA). Join the BSO as they perform a programme of Shostakovich, Khachaturian, Strauss and more.

Gábor Bodoczki and the Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra

NCPA. 7.30pm. Sun 5. 50-480RMB. 

Winner of the most distinguished trumpet competition of all – the Maurice André Competition – Hungarian trumpeter Gábor Boldoczki is an undeniable virtuoso. He joins the Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra this weekend to perform a programme of Dvořák, Hummel and more.

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

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