With this series we want to help you plan the perfect weekend out with the family through highlighting great activities going on in different neighborhoods around the city. We hope this helps you to make the absolute best of your weekend leisure time! All of the venues listed are in the same area, which will allow you to easily get between places conveniently on foot or with public transportation.
Jun 29-30 in Wangfujing/Tiananmen
There’s so much to do in these two neighboring areas that are located smack dab in the center of Beijing, but we often avoid the journey as these places are most commonly associated with streams of tourists and tea room scams. But you might not be aware that there’s been a lot of recent developments, in Wangfujing specifically, that should make it a great destination even for seasoned Beijingers. Here’s what’s going on this weekend!
Gogh VR!
Let’s be honest, it’s not always easy to get the kids excited about a trip to the museum. But, when you throw VR into the mix then you have another thing all together. From now until Sep 22, The National Museum of China is hosting this immersive VR exhibition, bringing to life some of the most famous works of famed Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh. The experience has more than 200 works by Van Gogh, reconstructed into a multi-sensory experience for new audiences. For more information or to buy tickets, visit here.
RMB 55. 9am-5pm. East side of Tiananmen Square, Dongcheng District. (6512 8901) 东城区天安门广场东侧
Get Stuffed at Cheesecake Factory
Journey north a little ways over to Wangfujing to finally check out the Cheesecake Factory. It has been open for over a year now, so maybe it’s time to finally indulge in a couple of items from their 200 dishes on offer and learn what all the fuss is about. Known for their massive portion sizes, dining at this restaurant doesn’t come cheap, but it’s nigh time to scratch this legendary American restaurant chain off your bucket list once and for all. Following your meal, walk it off with a little shopping at WF Central, then head over to that massive Hamleys toy store which is also in the neighborhood (practically next door).
11am-10pm Mon-Fri; 10am-10pm Sat-Sun. 4F, 412-419 WF Central, 269 Wangfujing Jie, Dongcheng District. (
Catch a Performance at NCPA
We know you’ve all been dying to experience some authentic revolutionary ballet. This performance by the Shanghai Ballet troupe, titled Bright Red Star, will provide you and your family with a one-of-a-kind experience that will keep you on your toes, by combining this very traditional western art form with the story of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Don’t expect Swan Lake, but rather a unique form of expression mixed with a creative interpretation of history to create something very special. While this maybe isn’t for anyone, at least we live in a city where stage performances from a variety of genres occur quite often, so feel free to replicate these weekend suggestions on another weekend with a different show at the National Centre for the Performing Arts.
