Dry January? 7 fun and free things to do in Beijing while sober

January 2021. It’s cold, it’s dark, and we're broke. Time to find some liver- and wallet-friendly ways to get through the next few weeks. Below we've compiled a list of fun (and free!) things to do in the city to help you beat the January blues (without booze). Learn a new skill, get your creative juice flowing, or just meet new people at any one of these great free activities around town. 

Salsa night

Aurora. Every Mon. 8pm-late. Free.

Hit up this free beginner-friendly salsa class at Aurora every Monday – after all, dancing like a Colombian cliché certainly didn't do Shakira any harm.

Improv Workshop

Chez Soi. Every Wed. 8pm-9.30pm. Free

Veteran entertainment outlet Beijing Improv’s long-running weekly workshops are a great way for beginners to get into improv. Bonus: it’s also bilingual, so both English and Chinese speakers can have a go and practice a bit of lingo at the same time.

Comedy Open Mic

Various time and locations

Comedy Club China, Beijing’s most active funny bunch has been holding up the English-language stand-up scene since 2011. Currently, the group holds two open mics a week for newcomers and regulars to cut their teeth or practice new material, at Paddy O'Shea's (9pm, every Tuesday) and the Great Outdoors (9pm, every Thursday).

Film screening

Fruityspace. Every Wed. 8.30pm-10.30pm. Free

Fruityspace, the dinky underground venue from the guys behind record store Fruityshop hosts regular documentary screening every Wednesday. Follow their WeChat (ID: fRUITYSPACE) for showing details.

Fiction night

Camera Stylo. Thur 14. 8pm-late. Free.

Hosted by Beijing literary journal Spittoon on the second Thursday of every month, fiction night is an open mic night where a collective of writers gathers to share their creative writing endeavours with each other in a welcoming, laid-back setting. 

Drink and Draw

Nugget. Every Thur. 8pm-late. Free.

Drink and Draw is a weekly drawing class held at Nugget with live models and prizes for the best sketches at the end of each evening. The workshop is free with materials provided. 

Raw Meat

Dada. Every Thur. 10pm-late. Free.

Catch the beats of fresh local producers at Raw Meat, Dada’s weekly DJ night which showcases young talents through all sorts of soundtracks. Dance till' you drop to everything from deep house to disco to techno.

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