Okay, so the city's both deserted and freezing but we're not going to let anything stand in the way of having a good time: make the most of the beginning of February with these ballin' events.
AROUND TOWN
Tai chi workshop
Ritan Park. 2-4pm. Sun 5. 200RMB
Get closer to Chinese traditions over the Spring Festival and learn the techniques of and principles behind the centuries-old practice with the CK Martial Hearts group. Instruction al fresco will come from an English-speaking coach, and will cover the warmups, stretches, forms and applications of Yang tai chi – the most popular style – as well as qigong cooldown exercises. Meet at Ritan Park south gate.
Longqing Gorge Ice and Lantern Festival
Longqingxia Scenic Area. 4-10pm. Mon 16 Jan-Wed 8 Mar. 100RMB; 50RMB (students); free (under 1.2m)
If a trip up to the -30°C abyss of Harbin seems just a little too torturous this winter, fear not: Beijing has its own fluorescent-lighted ice fest just two hours out of town. Although smaller in scale than its northern counterpart, it’s still got plenty of hefty sculptures, giant ice chessboards, mazes and toboggan runs.
Chinese New Year temple fairs
Venues across Beijing. From Sat 28. 10RMB
Temple fairs have been a part of daily life in Beijing for hundreds of years, becoming especially popular during the Qing dynasty (1644-1912). Scattered all over the city so residents could easily make their way to the nearest, some fairs were held as regularly as every fortnight. Between stalls, perhaps hawking the kind of tat we all find so difficult to resist, were opera and acrobatic troupes, puppet shows and 'crosstalks' (the Qing equivalent of a stand-up comedy act).
The Spring Festival fairs were, of course, a much bigger deal, and still bring in huge crowds and fanfare. They remain the best place to get a real taste of Chinese New Year, with the largest taking place in Dongcheng's Ditan Park; hit 'Read more' below for our rundown of the city's best fairs, plus addresses and opening hours.
FILM
Duckweed
Cinemas around Beijing. In cinemas now
Duckweed is the second film by Chinese celebrity Han Han, who’s just your typical blogger-turned-bestselling novelist-turned-racecar driver-turned-movie director. Han Han’s claim to fame is his portrayal of the dissatisfaction of modern Chinese youth, and this stylised crime and racing flick looks to have a story that’s full of crushed youthful hopes.
The Village of No Return
Cinemas around Beijing. In cinemas now
We』ll say this for Chen Yu-hsun’s Chinese New Year comedy: it really doesn’t look like anything else out there. Chen has been making comedies since his breakout Taiwanese New Cinema film Tropical Fish in 1995, and now he’s moved to the Mainland along with star Shu Qi for a story about a village facing a device that can erase memories.
ART
Towards the Emergence of Resistance
Taikang Space. Until Mar 4; open Tue-Sat. Free
Toward the Emergence of Resistance is a group exhibition co-curated by four young curators Yuan Fuca, Miao Zijin, Jo Wei and Yao Mengxi, who are all currently dedicating their careers to independent curating and art criticism. In this exhibition, each curator is in charge of a singular unit, while through the negotiation and discussion among the curators, the four different yet related units are activated and displayed under a common framework.
The Darkroom That Is Not Dark
Magician Space. Until Sun 26 Feb; every day except Monday. Free
Elaborating on new thematic directions, this exhibition explores how human behaviour or unspoken desires can be articulated via living forms, ecological systems, and through artificial and natural structures found in our daily life. Looking to unhinge the viewer from a fixed condition of observation, the exhibition examines the gallery as a system and its symbiotic relationship with human bodies as they enter into an institutional space.
Songs of the Phoenix Mirror
Ink Studio. Until Sun 12 Feb; every day except Monday. Free
Through documents and archival footage, the exhibition reviews Wei’s artistic and intellectual development from the late 1980s. It surveys his major calligraphic styles: his signature 'magic squares'; his monumental continuous cursive script inspired by Fu Shan (1607-1684) and other 17th-century masters; and his cursive renditions of the engraved lines of ancient seals, steles, and Oracle bones.
STAGE
King Lear
NCPA. Until Thu 2. 180-680RMB
Shakespeare's classic (and one of the four great tragedies) about an ageing king who fails to recognise true family love and loyalty and pays dearly as a result, with madness and eventually death.
MUSIC
Jurat + Raymond
69 Café. 9-10.30pm. Mon 30. 60RMB; 50RMB (presale)
Jurat is a multimedia musician who will be joined on stage by fusion sitar artist, Raymond. Originally from the Philippines, Raymond combines a rock 'n' roll vibe with influences ranging from Jimi Hendrix to traditional Indian music. Price of entry includes a free drink. You can buy your tickets here.
Hit 'Read more' for full event details and even more great things to do.