7 great things to do this weekend in Beijing

Photo: Motel77/Instagram

Your weekend guide to the best of Beijing 

October is more than half gone (sad face), and it might be the last week of calm before the madness of Halloween sets in, but there are still many great things to do in the city, from a secondhand bookfair to a tattoo festival to a murder mystery dinner. Check out our top picks below. 

Roundabout Bookfair

Roundabout. Sat 24-Sun 25. 10am-3pm. FREE

Have your fill of books while supporting a good cause at Roundabout's upcoming book fair, where proceeds go to helping children in need (and maybe someone's life). Bring your second-hand books as well, as its charity shop is happy to take any (well-kept) reads, as well as all sorts of donations.

Nu Women Empowerment Summit

Photo: Charlotte Smith

Hotel Jen. Sat 24. 10am-6pm. 1,500RMB/1,250RMB (adv)

Looking to connect with more ambitious and creative women in the capital? Join for a women empowerment summit this weekend, which looks to help all female-identifying individuals realise their full leadership potential. Join for a day of retreat and reflection that features talks by Beijing entrepreneurs, artists, and industry leaders, as well as interactive workshops on yoga, mindfulness and improv, plus a lunch buffet, drinks and live music performance. To learn more, click here.

Shanxi Noodle Making Class

The Hutong. Sat 24. 10.30am-1pm. 350RMB/300RMB (member)

If there’s anything we love more than a humble bowl of noodles to keep us warm in the cold weather, it’s noodles made by hand from scratch. The Hutong's hosting a hands-on cooking class offering just that. Learn how to roll the perfect chewy strands of Shanxi noodles, from hand-rolled and knife-cut to a gnocchi-shape, and at the end of the class, you'll get to enjoy your creation with two home-style toppings. 

Beersmith's Tattoo Festival

Photo: Beersmith

Beersmith Gastropub. Sun 25. 1-11pm. FREE 

If you've been thinking about getting inked, go under the needle and get inspired by some of Beijing's top tattooists at Beersmith's tattoo fest. Alongside artists creating their latest masterpieces, there’ll be a full day of entertainment, including party games, tattoo competitions, beer competitions, and a stall of artisans selling their wares.

Murder Mystery Dinner 

4 Corner. Fri 23. 7:30pm-late. 350RMB 

For pre-Halloween Shenanigans, 4 Corner is playing host to a murder mystery dinner. Don your best fancy/steampunk costume (optional) to play a character set in a dystopian future, and follow clues, plot twists, suspicious suspects to help solve the mystery of a murder, all the while tucking into a three-course dinner. For more, add WeChat (ID: VanessaDelgadoSosa). 

Zarah Autumn Menu Launch Party 

Photo: Cafe Zarah/WeChat

Cafe Zarah. Fri 23. 7pm-late. FREE 

Gulou fixture Zarah is marking the season with a new menu featuring a host of plant-based dishes using Beijing faux meat brand Zhenrou. Join them for a launch party tomorrow, and get a 15 percent discount on all newcomers, from healthy grain bowls to a variety of hearty pasta dishes with plant-based meat options. 

Motel77

Photo: Motel77/Instagram

Dada. Fri 23. 10pm-late. 60RMB

A dark disco and slow techno act ‘for those who like to keep their leather jacket on the dance floor’, Motel77 is a French DJ duo based in Shanghai who has received acclaim from BBC 6 Music and DJ Mag UK since their first EP release. Having performed in Paris, Marseille, Tokyo, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Ho Chi Minh, the duo now brings their groovy, spacey techno sounds to Dada.

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