Holiday Primer: Golden Week Happenings & Deals
National Holiday officially starts tomorrow, and we’ve already gone into holiday mode making plans for the rest of the week. Consider this list a plan of sorts, or the means of making your own plans, as it features events that’ll be going on all week long plus one-time events to consider signing up for right away.
Things Worth Checking Out or Signing Up For
“Train Block” at 798-751 District
A former coal storage and transportation section of the former 751 factory area has been transformed, with passenger rail cars refitted and redesigned to feature art exhibitions, a vintage clothing shop, a hot dog stand and more, some of which are running beyond the holiday. Check out their events schedule below.
Car No.13
Now until Oct 8, noon-7pm daily
1st Artificial Intelligence Art Festival Exhibition by XINSHIXIANG
Car No. 2
Now until Oct 26, 9.30am-6.30pm daily
Bronze Lucia Limited Time Pop-up
Car No. 5
Now until Oct 26, 9am-9pm daily
Carelover Blue Planet Plan - Cute Pet Experience
Car No. 14
Now until Nov 30, 9am-9pm daily
Anime Garage Kits Pop-up
Oct 5, 3.30pm-6.30pm
Outdoor Music Concert
798·751 Community Train Street 798·751火车街区
4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Inside 798·751 Community, Chaoyang District
朝阳区酒仙桥路4号798·751园区里面
Hours: 24 hours (shops have different hours)
Contact: 010 5978 9114
FilmNeverDie Holiday Photowalk
FilmNeverDie is popularizing film photography with their regular photowalks – think of it as a walking tour during which you snap photos – with one happening on Oct 5, kicking off from 2pm at the collective’s new Dongsi shop and film development studio. Signup is RMB 5 and limited to ten spots, and you can get in touch with FilmNeverDie via WeChat (ID: FND_lab).
FilmNeverDie
4 Zhangzizhong Lu, Dongcheng District
东城区张自忠路4号
Hours: Tues-Sun, 11am-6pm
Contact: FND_lab (WeChat)
NEED! FLEA Vintage Market & Afterparty
The NEED! FLEA Market returns to Longfusi for the holiday with over 180 vendors from 35 cities from across China selling vintage clothes, second-hand items, and other creative concepts. There will also be live DJs with music all through the event, with an afterparty taking place at Beijing Solo on Oct 7. Tickets are RMB 39 per person. Check this post for ticket purchase and more info.
Beijing Longfusi 大隆福寺
95 Longfusi Jie, Dongcheng District
东城区隆福寺街95号
Contact: 010 6406 0668
Golden Comedy Speed Dating & Other Comedy Citadel Happenings
If you're single and ready to mingle then why not spice up your Golden Week on Saturday (Oct 5) with Comedy Citadel's Golden Comedy Speed Dating. The event combines normal old speed dating -- meet one person for a few minutes, see if you can strike up a conversation, move on to the next -- with a comedy twist, providing standup before, during, and after with some funny conversation topics for those involved. Entry is RMB 98/person and can be booked via the link here. Comedy Citadel will also be hosting some other great events over the break, read more about those here.
Greenbox Theatre 南阳．共享际
6 Nanyang Hutong, Dongcheng District
东城区南阳胡同6号
Hours: Daily, 10am-10pm
October Movie Nights at The Local - Beetlejuice
The Local is kicking off the week with the opening of their October movie nights, all of which will be appropriately Halloween themed. The monthlong event kicks off this Wednesday (Oct 2) with the 1980s Tim Burton classic Beetlejuice, leaning more on the funny side of spooky to kick things off. The screening is free entry but reservations are recommended. You can reserve by contacting Kenn on WeChat (ID: localKenn). The Local will also be running their normal specials and other shindigs throughout the week, check this article and the poster below for more info.
The Local Cocktail Bar & Eatery
1/F, 101, Southeast Side, Bldg 80, E Area, 4 Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区工人体育场北路4号院80号楼E区东南侧1间1层101室
Hours: Daily, 11am-midnight
Contact: 010 6591 9525
Holiday & Monthlong Food Deals Worth Indulging In
The following food deals are only happening this week or through the month of October. Many other locations with weekly specials will remain open throughout the break. Check the list below (courtesy of the Foodies in Beijing group) or call ahead to your favorite restaurant and ask.
Oktoberfest Kicks Off at Slowboat
Slowboat kicks off Oktoberfest tomorrow in a big way, with deals on Bavarian-style pretzels, beer sausages, and one-liter steins filled with the brewery’s Drink Like a Fish Pilsner. All through the month of October starting Oct 1, guests will get a complimentary pretzel when they order a stein of pilsner, can add on a sausage to their pilsner order for just RMB 15 on Tuesdays, or can get a stein for RMB 55 (RMB 45 for crew members) all week long from 1pm to 7pm.
More deals and specials await throughout the holiday, as well as chances to win spectacular prizes throughout the month. Check this post here for more details. This event is happening at all Slowboat locations.
Half Price Tacos & Taqueria Favorites at QMex
QMex is putting the taco into October break – Oc-taco-ber break, if you will – with half price on all tacos throughout the holiday. What’s more, even though QMex Taqueria recently closed, that doesn’t mean their food is gone too: QMex is now offering a few fan favorites (plus drinks) from the newest Taqueria menu at their locations. These include the Birria Tacos, Chili Shrimp Tacos, and Wet Burritos, with Coconut Margs, Micheladas, and Agavales tequilas also making an appearance.
Holiday Drinks Deals at Café Zarah
Available from Oct 1 to Oct 6, Café Zarah welcomes guests to make the most of the holiday with friends and family with some special drink and food deals. Gin and tonics, draft beers, and Aperol and Hugo spritzes are all RMB 45 all day long. Plus, buy any bottle of wine and you can enjoy free bruschetta with your purchase. Also, be sure not to miss Zarah's holiday brunch on Oct 6. More details on that here.
Café Zarah
46 Gulou Dongdajie, Dongcheng District
东城区鼓楼东大街46号
Hours: Tues-Thurs & Sun, 10am-midnight; Fri-Sat, 10am-1am
Contact: 010 8403 9807
Tomahawk for Two at Morton’s The Steakhouse
Morton’s has unveiled a new limited-time set menu for the month of October, and it's all centered around one massive tomahawk steak – essentially a bone-in, thick rib eye, a cut prized for its tender texture and high fat content, which lends the steak its rich, juicy flavor. All of this comes in one set meal for two. See the menu below for details.
Morton's The Steakhouse Beijing
2/F, Inside Hotel Regent, 99 Jinbao Lu, Dongcheng District
东城区金宝街99号丽晶酒店2层
Hours: Daily, 11.30am-2pm; 5pm-9.30pm
Contact: 010 6523 7777
Holiday Happy Hour & Brunch Specials at Beersmith
Beersmith will be open throughout the holiday, however from Oct 1-3 their hours will be adjusted to 2pm-2am, they will then return to normal hours (11am-late) from Oct 4. From Oct 1-3 they will also be extending happy hour from 2pm to 9pm, with BOGO on all beers. They’ll return to their normal happy hour schedule of 3.30pm-7.30pm from Oct 4.
Their brunch menu will be available throughout the holiday as well, coupled with a holiday free flow deal in which beer, wine, and sparkling wine is available free-flow for RMB 188 per person at set times (see poster above for details). Check this post here for more details and happenings.
Beersmith Gastropub 鲜啤吧
1/F, Hotel JEN Beijing, Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区光华路北京新国贸饭店1层
Golden week hours: Oct 1-3, 2pm-2am, Oct 4-7 11am-late
Contact: 010 8647 1098
Restaurants Open Throughout the Holiday
- Apollo
- The Butcher & The Bottle
- Georgia’s Feast
- Turkish Feast
- La Maison Lyonnaise
- Pebbles Courtyard
- L’OX
- East End
- Berlin Bites
- Bistro 108
- Char, Tapas, Ying, Florist - Intercontinental Sanlitun
- Morton’s The Steakhouse
- Dastaan Indian Cuisine
- Bollywood Tales
- Plan B
- Confidential (closed Oct 1-2)
- Bellota Spanish Restaurant
- Mulu
- Laksa Queen
- Morton’s of Chicago the Steakhouse
- Migas Mercado
- SULTAN RESTAURANT
- Café Zarah (closed on Oct 7)
- Side Street both locations
- Sumac
- Q Mex (all locations)
- Beersmith (adjusted hours Oct 1-3, 2pm-2am)
- Slowboat (all locations)
Don't see your favorite restaurant listed? Be sure to give them a call before or during the holiday to check their hours, or add Ajit (QR code below) and ask to be added into the Foodies in Beijing group.
READ: Try 80+ Dishes at the Beijing International Canal Arts Fest
Images: Unsplash, courtesy of the venues
