Dry January? 6 fun and free things to do in Beijing while sober

Photo: Nugget/WeChat

January 2023. 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 (booze optional). Learn a new skill, get your creative juice flowing, or just meet new people at any one of these great free activities around town. 

Comedy Open Mic

. Every Tuesday. 9pm-late. Free

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 an open mic every week for newcomers and regulars to cut their teeth or practice new material at Paddy O'Shea's.

Film screening

. Every Wed. 8.30pm-10.30pm. Free

Fruityspace, the dinky underground venue from the guys behind record store Fruityshop puts on regular screenings of an eclectic range of documentaries and indie films every Wednesday. Follow their WeChat (ID: fRUITYSPACE) for showing details each week. 

Craft Night

Photo: Nugget/WeChat

. Every Wed. 8pm-late. Free.

One for arts and crafts lovers, Nugget's Wednesday craft night is an all-around creative space that introduces a multitude of craft trends and ideas through a series of regular DIY workshops. Expect a different theme each week, from linocut printmaking to wine sculpting to bleach dying and more. Most events are free and all material is provided. 

Drink and Draw

& . Every Tues & Thur. Various time. Free.

Drink and draw, the long-running drawing session is held bi-weekly at Modernista every Tuesday at 9pm, and Nugget every Thursday at 8pm, with live models and prizes for the best sketches at the end of each evening. The workshop is free with materials provided.

Retro games night

. Every Sun. 8pm-late. Free.

Come get your Mario cart fix at Nugget’s Sunday retro games night, which celebrates all things quirky, artistic and musical in gaming. Geek out with an impressive array of old-school classics and oddities available to play on a variety of of consoles provided by the cafe.

Raw Meat

. Every Thur. 10pm-late. Free.

Catch beats from fresh faces on the local underground music scene at Raw Meat, Dada’s weekly DJ night 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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