The best things to do in Beijing this weekend

Your weekend guide to the best of Beijing

With the weekend shaping up to be a bit of a scorcher (hello 33-degree Friday), it's only fitting that Beijing's brought one helluva good lot of things to do. Check 'em out below.

Africa Week 2019

Art Afrik 2018. Photo: EB Photography

Various locations and times. May 17-26. 

Kicking off this Friday with contemporary African art exhibition Art Afrik, Africa Week returns to Beijing after its wildly successful debut last year. Organised by Beijing-based social enterprise Kente & Silk, this year's festival features another fantastic programme of events celebrating and promoting African culture and achievements in China. Keep an eye out for our upcoming feature on all the unmissable events to check out during the festival, but until then, click here for more information.

WISE: The Future Think Tank

UCCA/Danish Cultural Center. Various times. Sat 18-Sun 19. 260RMB (one-day pass); 420RMB (two-day pass).

Returning for its second year, WISE gathers a group of domestic and international thinkers from a range of industries and backgrounds for a series of keynote speeches and talks on the pressing issues of our time, covering technology, music, art, fashion, entertainment, business, media and science. This time round, they're expanding from one day to two days, teaming up with Europe's biggest international music platform Reeperbahn Festival for a two-night musical programme. Featured acts include Chagall (pictured above), Jungstötter, The Hormones, Mavi Phoenix and more. For more information (and to win tickets!), check out our guide here.

The Beijing Flea Market

Tech Temple (Sanlitun). From noon. Sat 18. Free.

The Beijing Flea Market returns just in time to close out spring. This is the city's one-stop shop for all things made in Beijing, with more than 40 vendors featuring some of the best local, independent design and crafts from both established and emerging makers. Shoppers will also find baked goods, dairy-free froyo, wine and more.

Rumble in the Jumble

Modernista. From noon. Sun 19. Free.

Rumble in the Jumble is a monthly hutong market where Beijingers can find vendors selling all manner of goods, from craft foods to handcrafted jewellery, to second-hand items, to works of fine art. The list of vendors also changes monthly, ensuring variety and making it the perfect place to find pretty unexpected vendors, including on-site craft workshops, storytelling, reiki, caricature drawing and many other unique services. For a full list of the food vendors at this weekend's market, click here.

Waste-Free Wall

Jiankou Great Wall. 8am. Sun 19. 150-200RMB (depending on how many sign up).

Usually taking place on Earth Day (April 22), this year's Waste-Free Wall was delayed due to Jiankou Great Wall's unexpected closure. Now reopened, join the team at Beijing Hikers as they do their part to clean up the trash and litter left behind by lazy hikers and careless campers. Bookings close Saturday May 18.

Garron Chiu

The Bookworm. 8pm. Sun 19. 120RMB. 

American-born, Hong Kong-based stand-up comedian Garron Chiu performs this weekend thanks to the folks at Comedy Club China. On stage, you'll find him grappling with his ego, talking about his myriad of doomed relationships (and his current successful one), and trying to figure out whether he's too Asian or not Asian enough. Get your tickets here.

Moka Bros x Seedlip brunch pop-up

Moka Bros (Sanlitun). From 12.30pm. Sat 18. Free.

Moka Bros and Seedlip are joining forces for a brunch pop-up party at Moka Bros Sanlitun. Guest bartender and Seedlip ambassador Sebastian Robinson will create their No-Lo (non-alcoholic or low alcoholic) craft cocktails, accompanied by music from DJ Peter Stone and sax player Nathaniel Gao.

011 Brunch & Day party

Red Rose. From noon. Sat 18. 90RMB; 60RMB (presale).

What's summer without a good outdoor party? Get a dose of Beijing's summer with 011 Brunch & Day Party, back for its 2019 edition. Head on down to Red Rose for plenty of food and drink deals plus an eclectic mix of music from DJs Kel, 4Tael and Dirty Dishes. Every party-goer gets a complimentary drink with every purchased ticket if they arrive before 2.30pm.

Slow Boat brewery tour

Slow Boat Sanlitun Brewpub. 2pm. Sat 18. 150RMB.

Like Slow Boat's beer and want to know more about how it's made? Join Slow Boat team on a tour of their Sanlitun brewpub this weekend. For 150RMB per person, enjoy a tour, Q&A, one-hour free-flow beer session and more. 

Vegan Outreach dinner

Moka Bros (The Place). 7pm. Sun 19. 110RMB. 

Vegan Outreach meals were created with the goal of helping make Western restaurants in Beijing become more vegan-friendly. At these events, vegans and vegetarians are given the chance to get together, as well as introduce their meat-eating friends to a more plant-based diet. This May's meal will feature a curated menu from Moka Bros, with highlights including hummus, roasted pumpkin soup, grain bowls and more.  For more information or to sign up, scan the QR code below.

Destination Patio Party

Destination. From 2pm. Sun 19. 30RMB (includes one free beer).

Destination celebrates the arrival of summer with a beer-y, cheery bash on its outdoor patio. Enjoy a laidback afternoon of beer games plus buy one, get one free on Slow Boat beers. Register by scanning the QR code below.

Iri

Omni Space. 8.30pm. Fri 17. 200RMB; 150RMB (presale).

Japanese pop and R&B singer-songwriter Iri started out learning folk guitar, in large part due to her mum's influence. Since then, she’s worked as a singer in several old jazz bars, then done a complete 180 and released her debut hip-hop LP Groove It to rave reviews.

Timber Timbre

Mao Livehouse Wukesong. Sat 18. 150RMB; 120RMB (presale).

Mixing melodic rock beats with a haunting eerie pulse, it’s no wonder this Canada-based crew have landed a few scores in The Walking Dead and Breaking Bad. Timber Timbre make lush, sombre folk with a quirky edge that resembles early-twentieth-century blues recordings. Catch them in Beijing for some psychedelic folk.

Sofar Sounds turns 10

798 Art District. 6.30pm. Sat 18. 125RMB.

Sofar Sounds is turning ten. What started out as a little side hobby in a London flat with just eight people is now in over 400 cities worldwide. As they celebrate around the world with over 65 shows, the global community is invited to its festivities. Join them as they kick off the next decade of music with some of their favourite alumni artists and good friends, all on a secret rooftop in 798.

Ally Kerr

Omni Space. Sun 19. 150RMB; 100RMB (presale).

With a knack for consistently writing heartfelt gems and a growing and dedicated following across the globe, Scottish folk-pop singer-songwriter Ally Kerr heads to Beijing in support of his newest album Upgrade Me.

Leech

Omni Space. Sun 19. 180RMB; 150RMB (presale). 

Formed back in 1995, Swiss post-rock outfit Leech devote themselves to experimental instrumental music, connecting unusual rhythms with floating melodies into one eclectic soundscape. Having released their seventh studio album For Better or For Worse just last year, expect a mix of old and new tunes.

Sikdope

One Third. From 10pm. Fri 17. 100RMB (presale).

Dawid Kabaciński, aka Sikdope, is a Polish DJ and producer. He grew up playing the piano and saxophone, eventually becoming the lead singer in a rock band. Sikdope found his love for electronic music, however, and has gone on to become a leading DJ in the dubstep and drum 'n' bass scene. 

Pop Up Disko X Ping Dynasty pool party

Superlife Gym. From 5pm. Fri 17. Free.

This Friday, join the Pop Up Disko and Ping Dynasty crews for Beijing's first official pool party of the year. With Friday's forecast a scorching 33 degrees Celsius, get out your bathers and head to the rooftop of Gongti's Superlife Gym (next to Playhouse). That’s right, a pool party in the middle of town. Summer tunes by DJs Chozie, El-Mar, Axey, Aida, Ksenia and Half'n'Half. Click here for more information.

MySpace Jam

Soi Baochao. From 10pm. Fri 17. Free. 

Pay homage to the age of MySpace and Beanie Babies at this throwback party. This weekend, Soi Baochao pays tribute to this iconic (don't @ us) era with music from Nelly, Ja Rule, Britney, Missy Elliot, Nelly Furtado, the Backstreet Boys and more. DJs Gary Boozy, Yung Coconut and Dru Picklz head up Soi Baochao's decks.

Great Wall Festival 2019

Mutianyu Great Wall. Sat 18-Sun 19. 720RMB (two-day pass). 

One of Beijing's best outdoor festivals returns with a killer line-up, including Ben Klock, Marcel Dettmann and Dave Clarke. There's a 5k fun-run before the festival starts, while the actual party kicks off in the afternoon, with three stages packed with local talent including Eric Lee, Ou Yang, Huang Weiwei and Shen Yue. Festivities will continue well into the evening so go prepared for the long haul. 

Disco Extravaganza

Migas Mercado. From 10pm. Sat 18. Free.

Queens unite on the dance floor – Beijing's most fabulous party returns for another instalment, bringing together fierce drag queens and phenomenal live performances. DJs Yauma and Tanner will also be on the decks spinnin' disco tunes to keep the party going all night.

Beijing is Coming

Camera Stylo. 3.30pm. Sat 18. Free. 

An old man comes back to Beijing after 40 years in search of memories. A young girl yearns to leave. A young man decides to make an unattainable documentary in Beijing about the legend of a lost king. While the bricks of the old alley get removed one by one, a new CCTV landmark building is about to be completed. Where are the city and the memories heading for after the gigantic black hole of the new building is created? Shot on location during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Beijing is Coming is a mockumentary reflecting the capital during that influential period. In Chinese with English subtitles. To register, click here.

A Dog's Journey

On general release from Fri 17.

Beloved dog Bailey returns in this sequel to surprise hit (due in large part to its 88.5 million USD Chinese box office earnings) A Dog's Purpose. Voiced once again by Josh Gad, the loyal dog lives on the Michigan farm of his 'boy' Ethan, his wife Hannah and their granddaughter CJ. But CJ's mom decides to leave with her and, as Bailey's soul prepares to depart for the next one, he makes a promise to Ethan to protect CJ no matter what. Thus begins this faithful dog's journey through multiple lives in order to keep that promise.

Roma

On general release now.

If ever there was a grumble over this gorgeous, Oscar-winning epic, it’s that more people couldn’t see it on the big screen, particularly here in China. Now finally in Mainland cinemas, director Alfonso Cuarón's richly textured masterpiece unhurriedly explores the social and political canvas of 1970s Mexico City, where he grew up in a middle-class neighborhood called Roma. A sober and autobiographical elegy about his childhood and the women who raised him (one hardworking live-in maid in particular), Roma is cinema at its purest and most human.Read our full review here.

Leila Alaoui: Ya Rayah

Galleria Continua. Until Jun 2 (closed every Mon).

Late French-Moroccan artist Leila Alaoui used her photographs and videos to explore identity, diversity and migration. For the first exhibition of her works in China, Galleria Continua presents Ya Rayah, the title deriving its meaning from the Algerian song of the same name, translated as 'O, you who are leaving'. Speaking to exile, the song and Alaoui's exhibition examine the suffering and melancholy experienced by those no longer present in their homes. As in her other works, Alaoui used her lens to bring truth and light to abandoned migrants around the world, hoping to engage viewers with the reality of those 'left to disappear behind clichés and statistics'. This incredible exhibition displays the humanity and depth of emotion Alaoui poured into all her work and stands as an homage to the strength and dignity she imparted throughout her short life.

A NCPA and Staatsoper Berlin Co-production: Les pêcheurs de perles

NCPA. 7pm. Wed 15-Sun 19. 100-680RMB.

Set in the faraway island paradise of Ceylon (Sri Lanka), Les pêcheurs de perles (The Pearl Fishers) tells the story of a love triangle complicated by true friendship. Zurga and Nadir are old friends, but in the past were nearly driven apart by their mutual love for Leïla, a priestess of Brahma sworn to chastity. The two men swore to renounce their love for the beautiful young woman, but neither this promise nor Leïla’s vow of chastity prevents her and Nadir from being overcome by longing when their paths cross again.

The Philadelphia Orchestra

NCPA. 7pm. Fri 17-Sat 18. 280-1,280RMB.

One of the world's preeminent orchestras, the Philadelphia Orchestra returns to Beijing this spring alongside pianist Zhang Haochen. Led by acclaimed conductor and music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin, join them as they perform Beethoven's Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68, 'Pastorale' and Sibelius' Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 43 on May 17, then Rachmaninov's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43 and Schubert's Symphony No. 9 in C Major, 'The Great', D. 944 on May 18.

Film songs in concert

Rulun Lecture Hall of Renmin University. 7.30pm. Sat 18. 180-580RMB.

Star Sky Chamber Orchestra, led by conductor Zhengyu Zhu, performs a special night of Hollywood's best film scores. Catch some of your favourite theme tunes, from Game of Thrones and Star Wars to Transformers and Jurassic Park, all in one epic night.

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

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