Meaty May Madness: Burger Season Returns to the Capital

Ah, May, arguably the most beautiful month in Beijing – an idyllic juncture in the changing of the seasons, nestled between the passing of the white fluff and the scorching summer heat. May also happens to be the backdrop for this year’s annual Burger Cup, a month-long event where all things buns and patties will be taken to epic proportions. Here’s what you, our fellow laobaixing, can look forward to:

Discounts on Select Burgers (starts May 16)
Being thrifty doesn’t mean you have to settle for subpar grub at Mickey D’s.The arrival of our Burger Cup means you can expect amazing burger deals at some of Beijing's best burger joints. In the coming days and weeks the Beijinger will help serve up any and all promotional deals happening throughout our city (so check back early and often).

Burger Cup Festival (Saturday, May 28)
The Beijinger’s very own Burger Cup promises to be the ultimate summer cookout. Enjoy mouthwatering, juicy burgers with live music, plenty of ice-cold beer, as well as fun activities, like beer pong, and actual grass to plant your rump on as you bask in the sunshine. This year’s venue is the same as last year’s, the , just opposite the north gate of 798. Think of it as the perfect opportunity to sample some of the city's best burgers before you cast your all-important burger ballot ...

Photo of the crowd at last year's Burger Cup Festival

Battle of the Buns (voting begins May 30)
Just like NCAA’s March Madness, where many deserving collegiate basketball teams get left out of the bracket of 64, our all-encompassing Beijing burger bracket must, too, leave out many burger joints.

We've scoured literally every single burger-serving establishment in Beijing – from rinky-dink Fifth Ring Road hole-in-the-wall eateries to glamorous five-star hotels – to come up with a list well above 150 burger locales in Beijing, meaning more than half won’t even make it into the final bracket. Yes, the competition is fierce, and as always, you, the discerning public, will rightfully decide which burger reigns supreme.

Want to get a head start on May Madness? Check out the Beijinger’s special May Burger issue, on shelves soon, for more details.

Photos: the Beijinger