31 brilliant things to do in Beijing this weekend

Photo: The Emperor Qianmen

Your weekend guide to the best of Beijing

Summer's in session and there's plenty of reason to head out this weekend with a jam-packed line-up of awesome things to do. From pool parties and city tours to stomping gigs, make the most of the perfect weather and get out there.

As well as these highlights, there are many more things to do in Beijing this weekend: explore, enjoy and don't forget to Instagram us your snaps with #timeoutbeijing or let us know on Facebook what you really enjoyed.

Jing A Beijing Bikini Pool Party

Photo: Jing A

Foam Lab. Sat 13. 2pm-late. FREE

Delayed by last weekend’s rainy weather, Jing A is finally ready to make a splash with a Beijing Bikini pool party at Foam Lab near the west gate of Chaoyang Park. Soak in the sun in an outdoor pool with all-you-can-eat BBQ, cold beer and good tunes, and compete in a watermelon eating contest as well as rock your best Beijing Bikini to win free Jing A swags.

The Forbidden City and the Great Wall at Mutianyu Tour

Photo: Bespoke Travel Company

National Agricultural Exhibition Centre. Sat 13. 7.30am-4.30pm. 895RMB

Go along with Bespoke's knowledgeable local guide and uncover the scandals of the emperor’s court, get a crash course in imperial architecture, eat lunch at a rustic, family-run restaurant in the countryside, take epic Great Wall selfies of the Mutianyu section, and toboggan down the side of it afterwards. Not bad for a day’s work.

Amazing Hutong Bike Tour

Photo: Beijing Experience

Gulon Hutong Culture Centre. Thu 11-Wed 31. 3-6pm. 300RMB

Beijing Experience specialises in hutong tours and this summer, it is organising daily hutong bike tours. Ride through the city's narrow hutongs and discovering its hidden gems. The tour is great for those who want to explore and learn more about the city's history and culture.

Saturday Pool Day

Photo: The Emperor Hotel

The Emperor Beijing Qianmen. Sat 13. 2-8pm. 298RMB

Pool party! Splash down at the Emperor Qianmen for a fun afternoon in the pool. From 2 to 8pm, sip on free-flow cocktails, beer, sparkling wine and chow down on snacks while DJ Jiaozi spins tracks to keep you in the summer chill zone. This is an 18+ event.

1

Hike the Yinmeng Temple and Sujia River

Photo: Beijing Hikers

Beijing Hikers. Sat 13. 7am-6pm. 380RMB/340RMB for members

Almost 1,000m up into the Yudu Mountains, north of Yanqing City, is Yinmeng Temple. Follow a scenic path through birch forests down into the Sujia River valley, past tall cliffs, canyons and mountains. The hike finishes with picturesque views of Beijing city from the mountains. Hikes must be booked via their website.

Mahjong Workshop

Photo: Culture Yard

Culture Yard. Sun 14. 10.30am-12.30pm. 250RMB/100RMB (Culture Yard students)

Join Culture Yard's dynamic Mahjong workshop for beginners. Learn the rules, strategy and the history of Mahjong in China before engaging in some healthy competition with fellow participants at this two-hour class. 

Mosto x Le Sommelier Wine Dinner

Photo: Mosto

Mosto. Fri 12. 7.30-9.30pm. 498RMB. 

Join innovative wine purveyors Le Sommelier and their expert sommelier Emilio Muedra for an intimate wine dinner at Mosto. Featuring wines from the pioneers of the Mendoza Malbec, the Altos Las Hormigas Winery in Mendoza, Argentina. The session includes a five-course dinner paired with five Altos Las Hormigas wines.

Brunch buffet at Kempinski

Photo: Kempinski Hotel

Kempinski Hotel Beijing Lufthansa Centre. Sat 15 Jun-Sat 31 Aug (every Saturday). 11.30am-3.30pm. 219RMB-538RMB 

Add some sizzle to your weekend brunches with Kempinski's buffet spread. Summer favourites include roasted Wagyu beef legs, mini burgers, freshly imported lobster, mussels and oysters, and a wide selection of imported cheeses and prime cold cuts. 

Sunday Aperitivo Italiano

Photo: Buona Bocca

Buona Bocca. Every Sunday. 4.30-7.30pm.

Buona Bocca's new weekend wine session features three hours of free-flow house white and red wine, prosecco and lambrusco for only 198RMB. Those who purchase the free-flow deal will also receive complimentary nibbles. Perfect for whiling away a Sunday afternoon. 

The Wedding Present 

Photo: 247 Tickets

Omni Space. Fri 12. 8.30-10pm. 280RMB/230RMB adv

British indie rock legends The Wedding Present plays their first show in the mainland. Fusing punk-rock aesthetics with a romantic edge The Wedding Present continues to create music that speaks to the hearts of generations.

Djang San and band 

Photo: Djang San

Modernista. Fri 12. 10pm-1am. FREE

Join Djang San and band for their album release party. They will be playing songs from their new album Straight Lines And Circles and showcasing a set of flowy yet intense indie rock compositions from Beijing underground's Frenchman.

Jimmy Bruno

Photo: 247 Tickets

Blue Note Beijing. 13 Sat, 7.30-9.30pm, 10pm-midnight. 14 Sun, 6.30-8.30pm. 180RMB/260RMB

Master jazz guitarist and jazz educator Jimmy Bruno came to prominence as a jazz musician in the 1990's. His 20-year career has seen him work with Jazz's greats including Hank Garland and George Benson. Hear his sounds live at Blue Note Beijing this weekend. 

Summer Sonic Showcase Gig

Photo: School Bar

School Bar. Fri 12. 9pm-midnight. 120RMB/100RMB adv

School Bar recalls the bands they have sent to Japan's Summer Sonic Festival to their stage this Friday for an explosive night of rock n' roll. Set to take over the stage are female-fronted pop-punkers who are fresh off a sold-out spring tour across China, Finger Family, freestyle hardcore rockers Laisee and last but not least, Twinkle Star, an emo powerpop outfit fronted by New Pants bassist Zhao Meng. 

The Great Buffalo Blues

Photo: Modernista

Modernista. Thu 11. 9pm-midnight. FREE

Waiting for some summertime specials? Don't miss out the folk blues melodies of The Great Buffalo Blues this Thursday. Bring a friend, have a cocktail and listen to the romantic acoustic ballads set up by this talented music duo.

The Great Buffalo Blues

Photo: School Bar

School Live Bar. Sun 14. 9pm-midnight. 60RMB/50RMB adv

Local promoters Rock Bros are back with Volume 5 of their Sunday night Late Night Study series at School Bar! On the agenda is female-fronted grungy rock n' rollers Pure, fellow grunge outfit Drunkard, metal dudes Polarize and pop-punkers Mind Walker in Rye! Come out and end the weekend with a bang.

Yuki Fatami

Photo: 247 Tickets

Beijing Theatre. Sat 13. 7.30-9pm. 100-380RMB adv

The award-winning jazz Japanese pianist brings his musical chops to the Beijing stage, bringing to life a series of Japanese pieces such as the classic Summer from the movie Kikujiro to Studio Ghibli classics such as Princess Mononoke and Howling Castle.

Gershwin Piano Quartet

 Photo: 247 Tickets

NCPA. Sun 14. 7.30-9pm.100RMB-480RMB

The Gershwin Piano Quartet sheds new light on the music of George Gershwin. Featuring four pianists on four grand pianos, playing, arranging and improvising on some of Gershwin’s most popular songs and orchestral works.

Summer Night Out

Photo: Intercontinental

InterContinental Beijing Sanlitun. Fri 12. 9pm-late. 288RMB/188RMB adv

Enjoy summer at Intercontinental with their summer night out party. With everything a party should have, live DJs, delicate canapé, free flow wines and Proseccos and special cocktails, party this evening at the Top Tapas and Top Bar at the hotel overlooking Sanlitun. 

TechNOrules Featuring DAMIE

Photo: Lantern

Lantern. Sat 13. 10.30pm-late. 80RMB/50RMB adv

Korean rising techno superstar DAMIE will be making her Beijing debut at Lantern. Now firmly based in Seoul, DAMIE has long harboured a deep fascination with all things futuristic. Her innovative and experimental way of working has led her to some of the contemporary scene's most innovative imprints.

Afro House-ish Friday Session

Photo: Migas Mercado

Migas Mercado. Fri 12. 10pm-3am. FREE

Grab your best-printed shirt and head to Migas this Friday 12 for a night of afro tunes. DJ Maclarry will fuse two of his favourite genres, house and music, for an afro-feeling time at Migas.

Excell

Photo: Lantern Club/Wechat

Lantern. Fri 12. 10.30pm-late. 80RMB

Crowd favourite DJ and promoter Eric Lee, the mastermind behind crews like Wasabi Sound, Baja Glitter and YQ Culture, spins this Friday at Lantern. Expect varied beats: his sonic wall spans from straight-up techno, to deep tech, minimal, tech house, deep house, indie and nu-disco.

A Casa Tutti Bene (There Is No Place Like Home)

Photo: There Is No Place Like Home/Lotus Production

Camera Stylo. Thu 11. 8-10pm. FREE

A story about a big family reunited to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of Grandma Alba and Grandpa Pietro in a big villa, on the island they've all moved to. The weather turns for the worse, and they all remain stranded on the island and the idyll between them seems to be over.

Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile

Photo: Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile/COTA Films

Camera Stylo. Sat 13. 10pm-midnight. FREE

Single mother Liz falls for Ted Bundy and refuses to believe the truth about his crimes for years. A drama based on a true story of the life of American serial killer and necrophile who kidnapped, raped, and murdered numerous young women and girls during the 1970s and possibly earlier.

The Lion King

Photo: The Lion King/Fairview Entertainment

Cinemas around Beijing. Opens Fri 12.

We all know the story of the Disney animated classic, The Lion King. Watch it again, this time in a photorealistic animated version. The battle for Pride Rock is soon ravaged with betrayal, tragedy and drama. Now, with help from a curious pair of newfound friends, Simba must figure out how to grow up and take back what is rightfully his.

Man In Black International

Cinemas around Beijing.

After three films, Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones are now AWOL—probably wisely on their part—leaving the dark suits and memory-wiping neuralyzers to Tessa Thompson and Chris Hemsworth. Does the new duo manage to fill those big shoes? Last chance to find out as it closes out in cinemas this Sunday 14.

Cats

Photo: Alessandro Pina

Beijing Century Theatre. Wed 3-Sat 6. 7.30-9.30pm. 180RMB-1180RMB  

One of the longest-running shows on both Broadway and the West End is coming to Beijing this summer after doing so well last year. Since its premiere in 1983, Cats has received seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and has been performed in 30 countries. Based on T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, the musical tells the story of a tribe of cats called the Jellicles.

Les Contes d'Hoffmann

Photo: 247 Tickets

NCPA.Wed 10-Sun 14. 7-9.30pm. 100-680RMB

Les Contes d'Hoffmann is the fantastic love story of Huffman and three women. Sitting in the Luther Pub beside the Nuremberg Opera House where his play is performed, the drunken Hoffmann recounts three love stories.

Anthony Browne's Happy Museum

Photo: The Visitors Who Came to Stay (1984)/Anthony Browne

National Museum of Classic Books. Sat 22 Jun-Sun 22 Sep (everyday except Monday). 88RMB-218RMB

See 162 original paintings by Anthony Browne, a surrealist artist who has won the International Andersen Prize for illustrators. The main characters of his popular books will be shown for the first time in China collectively, its vivid picture book characters and absurd and humorous artistic imagination to the delight of Beijing's audiences.

Leandro Erlich: The Confines of the Great Void

 Photo: Leandro Erlich/Port of Reflections (2014)

CAFA Art Museum. Thu 11-Sun 25 Aug (every day except Monday). 60RMB-120RMB

Calling himself a conceptual artist working in the real and perception field, Leandro Erlich's works are all about subverting the normal and rethinking the expressions of reality. At this exhibition, the Argentinean artist showcases his largest solo exhibition yet.

NBA Exhibition: Unstoppable Beijing

Photo: 247 Tickets

Yang Art Museum. Sat 13-Fri 13 Sep. 10am-6pm. 75-160RMB 

'Unstoppable Beijing' is a multi-level experience with interactive exhibits, video, and imagery to showcase the passion of the league, its teams and players, going back to the league's early years and exploring the many ways the NBA has evolved since 1946.

Tobias Rehberger: Blind and a Little Less

Photo: Galerie Urs Meile

Galerie Urs Meile. Sat 25 May-Sun 11 Aug (Every day except Monday). FREE 

Galerie Urs Meile presents Blind and a Little Less by German artist Tobias Rehberger. Following a major solo exhibition at the Rockbund Art Museum in Shanghai (If You Don’t Use Your Eyes To See, You Will Use Them To Cry), Blind and a Little Less draws upon the Shanghai exhibition and delves further into the existing themes and series of works.

You might have missed

More from Time Out Beijing