6 Things to do in Beijing During Spring Festival

Spring Festival is coming up, which means that besides a whole lot of firecracker noise, there's not much else happening in Beijing. But wait – that's not entirely true. Granted, your favourite hole-in-the-wall dumpling restaurant may close down and your regular jianbing man disappear from sight, but that doesn't mean the fun stops there. Beijing, being the much trumpeted capital of culture, does have a few tricks up its sleeves to make sure you don't wither of boredom during the break.

1)  Check out a temple fair
If your idea of fun is rubbing shoulders with tens of thousands of others surrounded by tacky decorations, then check out one of the city's numerous temple fairs. Some may call them hellish, others interesting, but one thing that is indisputable is the fact that modern temple fairs are a remnant of one of China's oldest customs. Click here for your guide to temple fairs in Beijing this year.

2)  Go clubbing
The party must go on! A number of clubs and bars are throwing Chinese New Year parties on Sunday, January 22nd: Haze will be handing out free dumplings at midnight, while DJs Yang Bing, Donald Summer, Pancake Lee, Jiong Jiong and Kaize pump out the tunes. Entry is free. Lantern is going one step further by not only offering free dumplings, but a fireworks show at 3am. The folks from Acupuncture will be working the decks. Q Bar is throwing an "iced-dragon sculpture themed night", which will feature special Year of the Dragon cocktails and free dumplings. They also promise a fabulous view of the city's fireworks from their rooftop area. So get your party shoes on and snap up some tasty freebies!

3) Watch a stage performance
If you're in the same category as many expats here, namely the "I've been meaning to attend a stage event but haven't gotten around to it yet" one, then stop making excuses and just go! It's really not that difficult to buy a ticket in advance (or at the door) and all the major performance stages are just a taxi ride away.

Ballet features heavily on Beijing's cultural agenda, which means there's always something on offer for dance enthusiasts. On January 24th, the Hamburg Ballet performs Third Symphony By Gustav Mahler which is based on, you guessed it, Mahler's music. The Hamburg Ballet is also performing Nijinsky on the 27th and 28th, honouring the great Russian dancer Vaslav Nijinsky. For more details, visit NCPA's website: http://www.chncpa.org/.

4) Go see some art
Red Gate Gallery is embracing the Year of the Dragon by holding an exhibition called "Year of the Dragon"! The joint exhibition features works by a number of established contemporary Chinese artists including Xie Guoping, Island6 and Tan Ping. The show runs until February 28th. Or why not go to 798 art district to check out the current exhibitions at UCCA and other major galleries during the Spring Festival break. Just remember that most galleries are closed on Mondays.

 
Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. Looks just like Beijing. 
Photo: moviefanatic.com

5)  Watch a movie
Did anyone else notice that Tom Cruise just doesn't seem to age? This month, Cruise returns to the big screen to prove that eight years after the first Mission: Impossible came out, he's still got enough zest in him to kick major ass.  Ghost Protocol, the fourth instalment of the Mission Impossible franchise, enjoyed the top at the box office upon its New Year's release in the States, and the action flick is likely to achieve similar success here. Screening in major cinemas across the city from January 28th.

6)  Go ice skating
Winter is when Houhai's image gets a revamp and even those who usually stay clear of the over-priced touristy area, pay a visit. By January, the lake is solidly frozen and perfect for skating on. Ice bikes and skates are available for rent for as little as 10 RMB; the only downside is that it gets extremely crowded. Going on weekdays is therefore recommended.
 

Related links
2012 Guide to Spring Festival Temple Fairs in Beijing
Beijing Watchdog: Elusive Train Tickets, a Legend's End and More
A Guide to "Street-Side Curiosities" in Beijing