Get Cultural From the Comfort of Home With These Virtual Events

Katie Coy, Managing Editor | May 9, 2022 5:31 pm | Add a comment | 199 reads

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.

Spittoon Fiction Night

Every second Thursday of the month is Spittoon’s Fiction Night and despite current restrictions this next 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

Beijing Postcards Talk: City of Segregation

Did you know that under Manchu rule Beijing became a segregated city, forcing Beijing residents to live in an almost apartheid- like system? Well, if you’re interested and want to find out 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

Bespoke Speaker Series

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

Warehouse Media Presents: The Jam

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

The Panoramic Palace Museum

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 follow this link for the virtual reality tour.

Time: N/A
Price: Free

Other Virtual Tours and Exhibition

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 offer virtual tours and exhibitions such as Nanjing Museum. Here are some of the places offering virtual tours: