Survive and Thrive In Beijing During Golden Week With These Events
For many of us, the Golden Week rush isn't so much exciting as daunting, thanks to the estimated 500 to 700 million people traveling during the Chinese holiday. For those who do better with pictures than numbers, it looks something like this:
Fancy yourself a cheeky beach getaway for the week? Trust us, it's not as fun as it sounds. If you really are determined, get ready to plow through it with your elbows and nails.
So what do we do, when the unstoppable flow of people pours into the cities, landmarks host horrendous queues and any attempt at a selfie with only you in it will become a miserable failure? Worry not, because Beijing is a great city to stay in if you steer clear from the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Wangfujing, temples around town and similar landmarks. Rule of thumb: if the restaurant or landmark shows up in any kind of top 10 on Trip Advisor, then avoid it at all costs.
We have piled up a few activities to help you enjoy the week and avoid getting sucked into the crowd. If you are planning a real stuff-your-tummy style holiday, then check out the delicious Golden Week eats on offer in Beijing.
Music
Beijing's music scene is not taking any breaks during Golden Week, and it's not turning down the amplifiers throughout the holiday either.
Those looking to incorporate some art into their music can head to the Danish Cultural Center on Oct 2-3 for an interactive music performance from Thomas Sandberg. The artist pulls the audience in with a set of video art, humor, and imagination paired with music, giving the word "play" a multi-colored concept.
Zhao Dai has been booming lately, relentlessly attracting Beijingers with internationally-acclaimed acts. This Wednesday they play host to the oh-so-chill vibes of rapper/producer Galcher Lustwerk. If you are looking for a heavier night out, rock out with the charming Japanese Hitori Escape on Oct 4 at Omni Space. Their Red Hot Pot Tour is sure to serve up scalding notes and promises to be a rowdy Thursday night.
Truth be told, what better celebratory music can one find than gypsy punk! Wrap up your holiday off with a pocket full of Hungarian gypsy rhythms from Bohemian Betrayers (pictured above) on Oct 6 at School Bar.
Art
The Great Wall might be a man-eat-man hellscape during the holiday, but such chaos rarely follows into the art district of Beijing. A.C. Embassy Hotel is hosting a collection of Leon Fenster's portraits of beloved cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Jerusalem to tell their stories through the eyes of child-like wonder.
UCCA, meanwhile, will induce laughter with the Italian style Commedia dell’ arte, for which Geoff Beale will share his experience as a comedia improviser before showcasing his students' performances. Once you are in UCCA, check out the multi-media exhibition by Taiwanese artist Musquiqui Chihying. The exhibition features photography, video and more, and tackles the history of discovery, from Zhou Enlai’s diplomatic visits to ten recently decolonized African states, to Ming-era explorer Zheng He’s voyage to what is now Kenya.
Others
Yes, that is a picture of the Great Wall, indeed! Are we kidding? Absolutely not. Whenever you spot pictures of the wall that are jam packed with tourists, odds are you're looking at good old Mutianyu, Badaling, or any other spot that you can reach by bus from Beijing. However, this historic landmark also has plenty of untapped hiking destinations to help you ditch the crowds and enjoy a piece of the Great Wall for yourself. There are plenty of hiking trips on offer, so check out our listings here.
If you are committed to staycationing and not leaving town, Side Street and The Great Outdoors (find them on WeChat to book a table: y591783) throw great pub quizzes to get that tipsy brain turning. The Great Outdoors is also hosting a three-day-long Smash Bros tournament with cash prizes and trophies up for grabs.
A week-long holiday is also a great chance to up your dating game! Beijing Foodies are throwing a Staycationers Mingle Party for that very purpose. Even if you are not looking for a date, Beijing Foodies are certainly a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the best places to eat around town!
Our beloved Soi Baochao turns into a cinema and showcases two brilliant pieces: The Death of Stalin, which details the comedic chaos ensuing at a tyrant's funeral, and a biographical drama called Leto based on the life of the legendary Russian rock star Viktor Tsoi.
All in all, there are plenty of alternatives to the stampedes that will help you enjoy your time off. May there be plenty of golden moments in your Golden Week!
Images: Telegraph, Fortune, Giphy, Felonline, Business Insider, courtesy of the venues
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Email: tautviledaugelaite@thebeijinger.com
