A Few Ways to Travel Virtually in Beijing and Elsewhere
With the majority of activities still a no-go in Beijing, I for one am already starting to feel a little bored and fed up being stuck at home with nothing to do. However, if there is one thing that over two years of dealing with Covid and inevitable closures has taught, it’s that where there’s a will, there’s a way!
Just like how restaurants have been offering special deals and coming up with creative solutions to the ban on dining-in, some of Beijing’s key cultural groups have also switched things up and are offering a range on online experiences instead.
Every second Thursday of the month is
Spittoon’s Fiction Night and despite current restrictions, this Thursday is no exception. Rather than meeting at Camera Stylo, there
will instead be an online event where participants play a game of Found
Fiction. For those who don’t know what Found Fiction is, Fiction Night
host Ana explains that it's “fiction that is written from snippets of
magazines, books or words found whenever.” Before joining, you should
write a short paragraph in advance and come armed with scissors and an
old magazine. For more details and how you can join, add Ana on WeChat:
anapf895.
Time: 8pm, May 12
Price: Free
Did you know that under Manchu rule,
Beijing became a segregated city, forcing residents to live in
an almost apartheid-like system? Well, if you’re interested and want to
find out more, then join this Beijing Postcards talk. Together with
Qing Dynasty historian Jeremiah Jenne (you might recognize his name as
the author of our Weekend Walk series) you can find out all about how
Manchu rule affected and impacted the capital. To buy tickets, scan the
QR code below the poster.
Time: 7:30pm, May 21
Price: RMB 80
Back in 2020, Bespoke Travel Company ran
two Speaker Series, culminating in 13 talks on a whole range of
historical and cultural subjects. From the infamous 1937 murder of
Pamela Werner in Beijing to exploring China’s favorite beverage tea,
there was bound to be a topic for everyone.
Bespoke is planning
on running another series of six talks that will run live on Zoom from
July to August, however if you can’t wait that long it's not a problem!
All 13 talks from their last series are available to buy, so if there was
something you missed or are just dying to find out about, simply scan
the QR code on the poster below to see what’s on offer.
Time: N/A
Price: RMB 45 for an individual talk
One thing I love about Beijing is its
vibrant music scene, with so many unique bands, venues and amazing
talent. Now, given the current regulations, going to see live music is
of course not possible. However, Warehouse Media have brought you the
next best thing: virtual live music jam sessions. As of press time, they
haven’t yet announced when the next session will be, however you can
head over to their WeChat Channel (warehousemedia) to check out videos
of the last two sessions and keep an eye out for news on when they’ll be
hosting the next one.
Time: TBC
Price: Free
Experience the wonders of the Forbidden
City with a virtual tour. Not only can you explore the former imperial
palace from the comfort of your couch, but you’ll have the entire palace
to yourself, avoiding the usual crowds that flock there! The tour uses
3D technology to construct the entire Forbidden City and you can enjoy
panoramic views, zoom in and even choose whether you want to view the
palace on a beautiful blue summer’s day or under a blanket of snow.
Simply scan the QR code below for the virtual reality tour.
Time: N/A
Price: Free
Aside from
the Forbidden City, there are a number of other virtual tours available
of other famous sights such as the Terracotta Army, or there are number
of museums offering virtual tours and exhibitions such as the Nanjing Museum.
Here are some of the places offering virtual tours:
National Museum of China
Beijing Museum of Ancient Architecture
Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum Museum (Terracotta Army)
Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes
Sanxingdui Museum
Shaanxi History Museum
Nanjing Museum
Zigong Dinosaur Museum
READ MORE
Weekend Walk: A Stroll Through Old "Peking"
Images: Courtesy of the venues, Christ Montgomery (via Unsplash)
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