29 fantastic things to do in Beijing this weekend
Photo: Yuanmingyuan
Your weekly guide to amazing events around 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 city tours to EDM festivals, 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.
Eudora Station's Funk Night
BUD X Tomorrowland Party
The folks at Budweiser are bringing the seminal Tomorrowland Music Festival to Beijing, recreating its immersive audio experience and carnival atmosphere at Happy Valley. The thumping beats from Boom will be broadcast via a live link-up on giant LED screens. Happy Valley’s main stage will also be pulsing out live beats from influential DJs with TOP 100 DJ Daddy’s Grove, EDM wizards NAOMI and KIIDA as well as trance maestro BEATREKER spinning set. We're also giving away tickets. Check out the next post on how to win or just scan the QR code below to buy tickets.
Clothes Swapping Party
Clear out your closet in an environmentally friendly manner, by bringing your clean, reusable clothes, shoes and bags and swapping them out for new-to-you items. Or fancy some 'new clothes' this summer? Show up empty handed and pick out something you'd like. For sanitary reasons, no swimwear and underwear is allowed in the swap.
Imperialism, Opium, and Nationalism: A Walk and Discussion at the Old Summer Palace
Join Beijingbyfoot for a walk and discussion on the Opium Wars, the sacking of the imperial gardens and the tragedy of imperialism in 19-century China, and how memories of those events are kept alive in China's contemporary political culture.
Conrad Beijing X CEYLON STAR Afternoon Tea
Photo: Conrad Beijing
Chapter. Thu 25-Wed 31. 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.
SBZ-Party: Stone x Baozza x Zarah
Photo: Stone Brewing/Baozza/Zarah
Café Zarah. Sat 27. 6pm-1am.
Beer, baozi and pizza lovers of the world, unite! A match made in the hutongs, join Stone Brewing x Baozza at Zarah’s courtyard for the SBZ party. Go to Zarah and try the new fusion buns and vote for your favourite flavour. The new Baozza flavours will be available - either steamed or deep-fried - as part of a special deal featuring two Stone draft beers, Delicious IPA and Tangerine Express IPA. Both IPAs will be 50RMB a glass until the kegs run dry.
Sunday half-price roasted chicken
Photo: Mosto
Mosto. Every Sunday. 5.30-10.30pm.
Mosto is here to make Sunday night dinners easy. Every Sunday, all night, their roasted chicken is half off (regular price 228RMB) accompanied by your choice of one side and one sauce. Choose from an assortment of sides like the truffle mashed potatoes, roasted pumpkin, broccolini and house sauces like the avocado salsa or South American chimichurri.
Unlimited dim sum brunch at The House of Dynasties
The House of Dynasties. Sat-Sun. 11.30am-2.30pm. 198RMB
Rosewood Beijing’s elegant restaurant The House of Dynasties embraces the flavours of Hong Kong-style Cantonese cuisine and offers an authentically flavourful dim sum brunch. Every Saturday and Sunday, enjoy unlimited dim sum during lunch.
3C Jazz Ensemble
Photo: Showstart.com
Dusk Dawn Club. Thu 25. 9-10.30pm. 60RMB
As part of their fifth-anniversary celebrations, DDC welcomes jazz ensemble 3C. Creative Composers Collective (3C) was founded by Italian Jazz Guitarist Simone Schirru with the idea of creating a synergy between some of the best jazz composers in Beijing.
Bob Dupont and the Outstanding Vegan Bankers
Photo: Modernista
Modernista. Sat 27. 10pm-1am. FREE
Modernista welcomes Bob Dupont and The Outstanding Vegan Bankers. The band are launching their new album Dolphin Sandwhich.
Kunihiko Sugano
Photo: Kunihiko Sugano/247 Tickets
NCPA. Sun 28. 7.30-9pm. 50-480RMB
Kunihiko Sugano is a Japanese jazz pianist. Born in 1936 in Tokyo Prefecture, Sugano started playing jazz in the 50s, playing with legends like Tony Scoot, George Otsuka and Isao Suzuki. In the 60s and 70s, Sugano released albums notably Love is a Many Splendored Thing (1974) and Hello Again (1981). Catch the jazz veteran live this Sunday at the NCPA.
Shanghai Qiutian X Thin City Tour
Photo: 247 Tickets
Dusk Dawn Club. Sat 27. 9-11.30pm. 80RMB/60RMB adv
Live Beijing Music presents a celebration on DDC's Fifth Anniversary with a showcase featuring some of the most exciting new bands on the Chinese music scene, including two very special guests from Shanghai and Shenzhen, math-rock indie outfit Shanghai Qiutian and art-punk scrappers Thin City.
The Sons of Thunder
Photo: Modernista
Modernista. Fri 26. 10pm-midnight. FREE
On Friday the 90s and early 00s vibes fill Modernista. It's time for The Sons of Thunder to make the stage thunder. Refresh yourself with easy tunes and be sure, they never fail to get the crowd jumping all night long.
Vibes Showcase with Jajatao
Photo: Jajatao/showstart.com
Dusk Dawn Club. Fri 26. 9-10.30pm. 120RMB/100RMB adv
Another brilliant line-up to celebrate DDC's birthday, the livehouse presents three up and coming rock outfits, Jajatao, Auburn and Dreaming Julie.
SWARRM
Photo: Acid Accident/showstart.com
Dusk Dawn Club. Sun 28. 8-9.30pm. 80RMB/60RMB adv
As
part of DDC's fifth-anniversary celebrations, the weekend wraps up with
an incredible alternative and post-rock line up. Up and coming acts
SWARRM, Acid Accident and Bu Liu Xing come together to celebrate the Beijing institution.
Headhunterz
Photo: 247 Tickets
One Third. Fri 26. 9-10.30pm. 120RMB (adv)
When it comes to Hardstyle, it is impossible to argue that any artist has had a bigger impact on the genre than Headhunterz. As soon as his first records were released, his unique melodic and energetic take on the genre sparked a new movement within dance music. Join him at One Third for a night of expertly crafted tunes.
Jose Cabrera
Photo: Lantern
Lantern. Sat 27. 10.30pm-6.30am. 80RMB (adv)
Prepare for a night of refined grooves, slicks bleeps and bass and subtly spaced out synths with Spanish DJ Jose Cabrera. This well-traveled Spaniard is part of the resident team at the legendary Tresor club, most often found stitching together visceral techno soundtracks, electro and ambient whenever it is needed in order to complete the musical path down which he takes you.
La Social Sunset Party at Migas Mercado
Migas Mercado. Sat 27. 3pm-3am. FREE
Let off some steam under the summer scorch at this sunset party brought by La Social and Migas Mercado. Come and sip on chilled cocktails, enjoy south American seafood bites, take in some of the most iconic summer rooftop views in Beijing and dance the night away in the end.
Suzanne Kraft
Zhao Dai. Sat 27. 10pm-6am. 80RMB
Suzanne Kraft is an Amsterdam based producer and DJ. Formally trained on saxophone, guitar, bass and keys but hypnotised by the one-man-band possibilities of producing on a computer, Kraft's work has been at the heart of a blissed-out and slow-motion revolution that has brought real beauty to the dance floor.
Next Gen
Photo: Next Gen/Netflix
Cinemas around Beijing. Opens Fri 26.
Next Gen is a 2018 science fiction animated film based on the online Chinese comic 7723 by Wang Nima. A friendship with a top-secret robot turns a lonely girl's life into a thrilling adventure as they take on bullies, evil bots and a scheming madman.
Papillon
Photo: Papillon/Czech Anglo Productions
Cinemas around Beijing. Opens Fri 26.
Wrongfully convicted for murder, Henri 'Papillon' Charrière forms an unlikely relationship with a fellow inmate and quirky convicted counterfeiter Louis Dega. Together, they attempt to escape from the notorious penal colony on Devil's Island.
Shakespeare Drama Screening Night: The Tempest
Photo: The Bookworm
The Bookworm. Fri 26. 7.30-10pm.160RMB
Catch the screening of Shakespeare's The Tempest at The Bookworm. For those unfamiliar with this classic, the story is about Prospero, the former Duke of Milan exiled by the King of Naples, who uses magic to shipwreck his enemies. However, the King's son Ferdinand survives and falls in love with his daughter Miranda. Is revenge stronger than love? Find out at the screening.
Spider-Man: Far From Home
Photo: Marvel
Cinemas around Beijing.
It's the final weekend to see the latest installment of Marvel's Spider-Man this weekend here in Beijing. Following the events of Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man is still mourning the death of his mentor, Iron Man while also trying to live a normal non-superhero life while with his friends despite disappearing for five years. When Nick Fury calls him up to assign him a mission, he tries to avoid him, goes on a holiday with his friends hoping for some normalcy but still ends up needing to go help save the world.
Russian State Ballet: Swan Lake
Photo: 247 Tickets
Tianqiao Performing Arts Centre. Fri 26-Sun 28. 10am-noon, 7.30-9.30pm. 100-660RMB
Swan Lake, one of Tchaikovsky's best works and some of ballet's most memorable music and breath-taking sequences. Filled with mystery and romance and the show has captured the imagination of generations over the years and it continues to attract worldwide audiences, young and old.
Play Toy Orchestra
Photo: Play Toy Orchestra/Website
National Library of China. Sun 28. 10.30-11.30am, 4.30-5.30pm. 100-380RMB
Join in the only orchestra in the world playing toy instruments. A bunch of grown men making music with toy instruments is playful and funny and undisputedly talented with a repertoire of an utterly original set of sounds.
Japanese Animation and Studio Ghibli Manuscript Exhibition
Photo: 247 Tickets
Polar Bear Gallery. 29 Jun-29 Aug. 68RMB/55RMB adv
Japanese animation has captured the hearts and minds of millions worldwide, this exhibition at Polar Bear Gallery showcases some of the best cels (short for celluloid) that anime has to offer. Featuring work from Studio Ghibli and Osamu Tezuka, this is an event for true fans of anime and newcomers alike.
Thousands of Cups
Li Tao: Universe
Photo: Li Tao/Tabula Rasa
Tabula Rasa. Thu 25-Tue 30 (except Monday). FREE
Li Tao makes extensive use of industrial materials and finished products made of aluminium, and presents unfamiliar structures and textures by cutting, bending and casting. Through the reconstruction and recreating the functional form of the materials, Li Tao gives the material a new perspective and aesthetic value.
Santiago Alemán: Natural Light
Photo: Santiago Alemán/Jitu Gallery
Jitu Creative Space. Sun 28-Sun 11 Aug. FREE
Spanish artist Santiago Alemán opens his exhibition ‘Natural Light’ at JITU Creative Space this weekend showcasing his paintings from his stay in China. Among them the series ‘Fiat Lux (Let There Be Light)’, ‘Intentions’, ‘Lux Tribus’ and ‘Green Skin’.
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