25 great things to do in Beijing this week

Photo: The Secret Life of Pets 2/Universal Pictures

Happy Monday, Beijing! With music, films and parties galore, it's shaking up to be another great week. Read on for our top picks.

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 or let us know on Facebook what you really enjoyed.

Hutong Races: Jade River

Photo: The Hutong Races

4corners. Sun 7. 2-5.30pm. 50RMB

Exploring the capital of China has never been more exciting. Change how you discover this wondrous, enigmatic metropolis with the Hutong Races. This month's theme is The Jade River, with the source of the grand canal primed for exploration. The most successful participants will stand a chance to win 50RMB prizes, courtesy of Sherpa's.

Monday Latin Night with Savor Latino

Photo: Modernista

Modernista. Every Mon-Mon 26 Aug. 10pm-1am. 50RMB.  

Head to Modernista every Monday, beginning July 1, for late-night latin fiestas. Don't miss this series of salsa classes, with mojitos and live music by Savor Latino. Defy social conventions and make Monday the new Friday evening.

UnTour Food Tours: Beijing Hutong Breakfast

Photo: Untour Food

Every Wed-Wed 25 Dec. 8-11am. 420RMB/210RMB (children)

Heard about Beijing’s hutong alleyways, but not sure what to do or where to go? Join UnTour Food Tours for breakfast as they sample the most authentic and delicious snacks. Over the course of three hours, you’ll eat your way through China’s 5,000 years of culinary history, try new foods and gain an appreciation for the artisans making these handmade treats.

Art of Afternoon Tea: Hello Summer

Park Hyatt Beijing. Mon 1-Mon 30 Sep. 2.30-5.30pm. 588RMB for two people 

Bask in the summer sunshine on the 63rd level of Park Hyatt's dining room. Enjoy a relaxing and elegant afternoon tea experience inspired by the colourful and lively colours of the warm season, coupled with the picturesque view of the capital.

Conrad Beijing X CEYLON STAR Afternoon Tea

Chapter. Mon 1 -Wed 31 Jul. 1.30-5.30PM. 288RMB plus 15 percent service charge 

This July, Conrad Beijing and CEYLON STAR Jewelry are preparing a Sapphire inspired afternoon tea. Indulge your senses with a relaxing afternoon in the Chapter Gourmet library enjoying decadent desserts, including blue sapphire chocolate praline, blue curacao sago jelly and chocolate rings and pearl cupcakes all presented in a lavish glass tower jewelry box.

Meatless Mondays

Photo: Slow Boat Brewery

Slow Boat (Dengshikou). Every Mon-Mon 29 Jun 2020. 10-12am

It's meatless Mondays at Slow Boat Dengshikou Taproom. Kick off this week in healthy fashion as all veggie burgers (the Grilled Vegan, the vegetarian Dongsi Tofu Burger and the vegetarian Mouring the Morning) and the Thai Vegan Chop Salad are now a buy one get one free with the purchase of any drink. Freshly squeezed juices are also 5RMB off. 

Puyuan Wines Holiday Sale

Photo: Puyuan Wines

Puyuan Wines. Thu 4-Sat 6. 4-8pm    

For three days only, Puyuan Wines is offering a one time deal. Buy a rosé or a zinfandel from its California wine collection and get a chardonnay for half price. You can also enjoy other quality wines by the glass or the bottle. Drop in and have a chat with their knowledgeable staff for an immersive experience at Puyuan Wines.

Nicola Conte and Spiritual Galaxy

Photo: 247 tickets

Blue Note Beijing. Thu 4, 7.30-9.30pm,Fri 5, 10pm-midnight. 280RMB/380RMB    

Nicola Conte is an innovative jazz revivalist that has always been open to sounds of every sort and colour. Born in 1964, Conte formed the artist collective Fez in the early '90s in his native city of Bari, producing jazz and modern electronic-oriented Bossa Nova whilst recording film music. Conte is known to create sensitive works of art that cross the border between soul and spiritual Afro-jazzWang Lei and Yile

Sir Andrew Davis and BBC Symphony Orchestra

Photo: 247 Tickets

NCPA. Wed 3. 7.30-9.30pm. 200RMB-1,080RMB 

Sir Andrew Davis has served as the music director and principal conductor of the Lyric Opera of Chicago since 2000. Through his prolific recordings, his many international tours, and guest appearances with several of the finest orchestras and opera companies in Europe, North America, and Australia, Sir Andrew is one of today's most recognised and acclaimed conductors. He conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra, a British orchestra based in London.

The Browning and Four Five

Photo: School Bar

Yue Space. Tue 2. 8.30-10pm. 160RMB/120RMB adv

Two metal bands, The Browning and Four Five will perform in Beijing. The Browning is a Kansas City quartet, whose music is hard rock beneath a casing of skittering electronic dance music, hip-hop grime, metallic brutality, and industrial expanse. Performing also is Four Five, whose music is a combination of metal, hardcore and new elements such as strong metal riffing on progressive combo-beats. Head bang the night away with these two metal bands.

Wang Lei and Yile

Photo:247 Tickets

MAO Livehouse Wukesong. Fri 5. 8.30-10.30pm. 100RMB adv   

Music duo Wang Lei and Yile have dedicated themselves to the development of cross-border music projects, creating musical compositions that feely explore a myriad of musical genres. Their latest album is their fourth, focusing on the coming of age tale of growing up. From muddled ignorance to lively babbling, Absented Memories is a tribute to family and a musical documentation of their memories.

Electric Taco X Manik

Photo: Migas Mercado

Aurora Club. Sat 6. 10pm-4am. 100RMB

Producer and DJ, Manik, makes a stop in Beijing for a night of expertly crafted electronic music. Influenced by his New York roots and crate digging for long lost material, Manik has an eclectic style creating his own unique brand of house and techno. Drink, dance and let the infectious tunes take you on a journey at Aurora.

Plastic Zoo

Photo: Migas Mercado

Migas Mercado. Fri 5. 10pm-3am. FREE

Beijing DJs Watermelon and Youga bring the animal grooves to Friday's party at Migas. Start the weekend with good energy and fun vibes, coupled with a playlist of jazz, funk, broken beats and house grooves. It's sure to be one evening of plastic pleasure.

Tropicalismo X Jay J's Birthday Bash

Photo: Migas Mercado

Migas Mercado. Sat 6. 10pm-3am. FREE

It's a tropical party at Migas. Think palm trees, mojitos, flower prints and classical tropical reggae, salsa, mambo and latin beats mixed by DJ G4.

Better Angels

Photo: Better Angels

Cinemas around Beijing. Tue 2-Fri 2 Aug.

Better Angels is a feature documentary exploring the relationships between the world's two largest superpowers, China and the USA. As they race towards political and economic conflict, they find themselves linked and interdependent on each other in an increasingly globalised world and economy.

China Through Cinema: In the Heat of the Sun

Photo:  China Film Co-Production Corporation

Cultural Yard. Fri 5. 7.45-10.30pm. 50RMB/25RMB for Culture Yard students

In the Heat of the Sun is a 1994 Chinese film directed and written by Jiang Wen, marking his first foray into directing after years as a leading man. Set in Beijing during the 70s, Monkey and his friends roam the streets of Beijing day and night. Dealing with events of that summer, In the Heat of the Sun captures moments of adolescent friendships and crushes.

The Secret Life of Pets 2

Photo: The Secret Life of Pets 2/Universal Pictures

Cinemas around Beijing. Open on Fri 5.

The highly anticipated sequel to the 2016 comedic blockbuster returns. Packed with its signature irreverence and subversive humour, this new chapter explores the emotional lives of our pets, the deep bond between them and the families that love them, answering the question that has long intrigued every pet owner: What are your pets really doing when you’re not at home?

An American in Paris

Beijing Poly Theatre. Tue 2-Sun 7, 7.30-9.30pm; Sat 6-Sun 7, 2.30-4.30pm. 280-1,080RMB

Jerry Mulligan is an American GI striving to make it as a painter in a city suddenly bursting with hope and possibility. Following a chance encounter with a beautiful young dancer named Lise, the streets of Paris become the backdrop to a sensuous, modern romance of art, friendship and love in the aftermath of war. An American in Paris is the passionate tale of discovering love in the 'City of Lights'.

Cats

Photo: Alessandro Pinna

Beijing Century Theatre. Wed 3-Sat 6. 7.30-9.30pm. 180-1,180RMB

Since its premiere in 1983, Cats has received seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and has been performed in 30 countries. Telling the story of a tribe of cats called the Jellicles, the musical is centred around the night 'Jellicle choice' which decides which cat will come back in the next life. The over-the-top set, hit songs and eye-catching choreography make it a musical not to be missed.

Gong Xingxing: Inside

Photo: 247 Tickets

NCPA. Fri 5-Sat 6. 7.30-9.30pm. 120-240RMB    

Inside by Gong Xingxing's Chinese title (Meiyou Gudao) directly translates to 'there is no lonely island', aptly describing the piece which explores the challenges of forging relationships in the information era. With powerful solos combined with minimal musical accompaniment, Inside highlights the vulnerability, yearning and heartfelt emotions of connections.

Offering

Photo: 247 Tickets

NCPA. Wed 3-Thu 4. 7.30-9.30pm. 100RMB-780RMB    

The Beijing Modern Dance Company is a leading professional modern dance company in China. Having performed regularly throughout Europe, Asia, Australia and North and South America, catch its latest dance production that combines the company's iconic integration of traditional Chinese culture with international influences.

Lithuanian National Drama Theatre: Tartuffe

Photo: 247 Tickets

Beijing Tianqiao Theatre. Wed 3-Fri 5. 7.30-9.30pm. 180RMB-1,500RMB    

Tartuffe is a perfectly immoral conformist, social climber and pragmatist who will go to all lengths to achieve his goals. Of course, in the new play, he is a great expert of public relations, well aware that there is no better tool for hoodwinking gullible fools than morality, which he cynically manipulates.

Exhibition-Making Practices in China and Southeast Asia in 1990s

Photo: OCAT Institute/WeChat

OCAT Institute. Thu 6-Sun 29 (Every day except Monday). FREE    

The Reading Room project is a public accessible study space and an on-going archival project focusing on exhibition practices during the 90s in China and Southeast Asia. Audiences are invited to interact with a growing collection of publications, which have been compiled to help disseminate, draw awareness, and promote accessibility to different book forms and methods of documenting exhibition histories.

Japanese Animation and Studio Ghibli Manuscript Exhibition

Photo: 247 Tickets

Polar Bear Gallery. Sat 29 Jun-Thu 29 Aug. 68RMB/55RMB adv/120RMB for two

Japanese animation has captured the hearts and minds of millions worldwide, and this exhibition at Polar Bear Gallery showcases some of the best cels (short for celluloid) that anime has to offer. Featuring works from Studio Ghibli and Osamu Tezuka, this is an event for true fans of anime and newcomers alike.

Zhu Lan

EGG Gallery. Sat 11 May-Sun 7 Jul. FREE

EGG Gallery presents artist Zhu Lan’s solo exhibition Slight. Understanding the word ‘slight’ as ‘tiny’ and ‘delicate’ in the Chinese context, Zhu Lan uses this word to describe artistic creation, believing that creating art is to feel the temperature, sound, and flowing air, and to subsequently employ these perceptions to the expressions of art. 

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