Hey there, Beijingers and Beijing enthusiasts: We Need Your Brain! Yes, you read that right. Your experiences, your struggles, and your wish list for a more foreigner-friendly Beijing are in high demand. And who better to ask than you, our dear readers, who navigate the city's charming chaos daily? Whether you're a seasoned expat, a fresh-off-the-boat tourist, or someone who's been eyeing Beijing from afar, we want to hear from you. Your two cents can contribute to a city that's as accommodating to international folks as it is rich in history. Rest assured, this survey isn’t just a shou ..read more

Xingfucun, located just west of the main Sanlitun area, is a bustling spot with numerous places to enjoy a drink or a bite to eat. From long established eateries that have been around for over ten years to new spots that have only opened in the last year or two, there is plenty to explore. In this first part we’re going to start off with a look at the places surrounding Xindong Lu, then will move further west in our next post. With the long May holiday kicking off today it’s the perfect time to go out there and try something new or perhaps visit an old forgotten friend! Please note as it is ..read more

We love to see restaurants succeeding here in the capital and one spot that is certainly thriving is Circle Urban, having just opened up a new branch in Haidian. This is the fourth branch under the Circle brand, with owner Yan Long originally opening up a Circle Cafe inside Renmin University back in 2012, followed by Circle Urban near Sanyuanqiao in 2022 and then Circle Burger in the CBD last year.  This newest branch is located in the brand new 1733 shopping mall, which is home to Douyin's new headquarters and conveniently situated right by Line 12’s Dazhong Shi station, which is ..read more

The May holiday is just a day away, and with that in mind, we've got a few events -- most of them music and food related -- for your perusal and consideration. If you're looking for more to do, take a gander at this list of festivals and markets, or, as always, check out the events listings on our website. Bonus: As Cinco de Mayo is happening right after the holiday, a few places are doing Cinco de Mayo specials over the break, so we've thrown those on the list as well. Not to Miss Highlight: Migas Mercado is teaming up with LTN and C-Baila for a massive party that's not to be missed: Barri ..read more

Hold onto your lederhosen, folks! The moment you've been salivating for is here: Sausage Fest tickets are hot off the grill and now officially on sale! All set to kick off from May 17 to 19 at FFC South Square this is one meaty extravaganza that'll have you saying, "Holy smokes, that's a lot of sausage!" Tickets Standard Early Bird Ticket: RMB 25 (RMB 55) Includes: Sausage Fest wristband (RMB 35 value) and themed bandana* (RMB 20 value) *There will be a different themed bandana each day, will you accept the challenge to collect them all?! VIP Ticket: RMB 108  (RMB 155 ..read more

May Day holiday is two days away, and with it comes a ton of festivals and markets worth checking out over the five day break and after. The Beijing Craft Beer Festival returns to Shougang, there’s a big tattoo and art fest in Tongzhou, and the Drum and Bell Towers are opening their doors for their own market and art happenings. Read on to see what else is going on… 2024 Beijing Craft Beer Festival The biggest party in honor of sudsy goodness is headed back to Shougang Park for the May Day holiday. 100+ breweries and beer makers from across China will descend upon the park for four days of ..read more

There’s definitely no shortage of gimmicky restaurants in Beijing. We’ve got Haidilao’s robot restaurant, a penguin-themed restaurant, a poop-themed restaurant, and countless cat cafes. So when I heard about a restaurant just for that time of the month, I thought it was yet another odd gimmicky trend. But as it turns out, period restaurants are a legit thing in Beijing and they’re delicious! Unlike the poop-themed restaurant that serves food in urinal and toilet-looking bowls, period restaurants aren’t serving up food on sanitary napkin-shaped plates. These restaurants are all about helping ..read more

Good news for Beijing public transit: we might just have a tentative opening date for Subway Line 3, all thanks to a somewhat related story on Chaoyang Railway Station. Said article, first published by Beijing Daily and other local news outlets, mainly concerns the finishing of construction of the transportation hub in Beijing’s Chaoyang Station in September. The piece of news briefly mentions how passengers will be able to transfer directly to Line 3, which is set to open the same month. As for other lines, especially Line 12 – which those in the know is often overshadowed by the ..read more

Consider yourself a connoisseur of the finest tunes in the form of rock? Catch yourself head banging with devil horns in the air to only the choicest cuts of heavy metal and more? Then head to Pinnacle Plaza on Apr 27, where you can rock out for a good cause at Rock Against Cancer. Eighteen bands will be playing live outdoors on the day of the event, with all proceeds from the music extravaganza going to Happy School, a project organized by Roundabout that supports children before, during, and after treatment for leukemia. Acts range from well-known expat guitarist Greg Luttrell t ..read more

Haven’t made weekend plans yet? Well, here we’ve picked out a few things happening in the capital to give you some inspiration! For even more goings on and for weekly events check out our events page for this weekend here, for more family-friendly orientated events, click here. Fri, Apr 26 What: Baan Koon Thai Food & Culture Festival Where: Avic Garden Plaza Click here to read more What: InterNations Beijing Rooftop Gathering Where: CJ Lounge What: Yue Space pres. "I'm Normal" Where: Yue Space Click here to read more What: Laurent Coulondre Piano Concert Where: Blue Note Click here t ..read more