Mar 1-17: ‘Spices’   

A new art exhibition by Chinese painter Xie Nanxing, ‘Spices’ comprises seven oil paintings painted by the artist in the last two years. The bright and layered works lean towards the more abstract side of the art spectrum.

Tue-Sun, through May 17, 10am-7pm; RMB50 (online), RMB60; UCCA.

Mar 4: Pia Fraus  

Estonian indie rockers Pia Fraus bring their unique blend of dream pop, shoegaze and electronica to Yue Space. The group’s entrancing distorted sound is set to spellbind your evening. 

Sun Mar 4, 9pm; RMB120 (door), RMB100 (presale); Yue Space, see event listing.

Mar 6: Naomi Kawase Night  

Gig spot Moguspace mixes it up this month with an evening dedicated to the works of Japanese filmmaker Naomi Kawase. The Cannes Grand-Prix-award winner often touches upon her childhood growing up in rural Japan in her touching films.

Tue Mar 6, 8pm; RMB50; Moguspace.

Mar 8: Public International Women’s Day  

Newman Tours is offering a special edition walk this month in honor of International Women’s Day. The public tour focuses on influential women of Beijing – from revolutionary female writers to the last Empress of China. Led by a female guide, enjoy a memorable walk through the city and learn about important figures that lived in the capital.

Thu Mar 8, 2-3.30pm; RMB90 (women), RMB190 (men); Book via info@newmantours.com

Mar 8-25: The Bookworm Literary Festival  

It seems like an eternity since the last one but finally, The Bookworm Literary Festival is upon us and, damn, was it worth the wait, with the just-over-two-week program including dozens of talks, panels, performances and shows.

Speakers include fiction and nonfiction authors such as Xu Xi (above), Geoff Dyer (below) and Zhang Lijia (bottom); foreign correspondents; poets; and Nobel Peace Prize photographers (Sim Chi Yin). Other must-see events include US comic Kyle Grooms and an Irish music and dance performance by The Upducky Band and Damhsa. Basically, there’s something for everyone: North Korean knick-knacks, graphic novels, podcasts, panels – you name it.

Thu Mar 8-Sun Mar 25; times and ticket prices vary; The Bookworm (for more info, including a full schedule, visit beijingbookworm.com).

Mar 8-29: Tango Beginner Boot Camp

So, you think you can’t dance? Well, now’s the time to learn. You may as well dive right into it with the tango – the Argentinian-Uruguayan dance is included on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List, so, you know, you could do worse. Luckily, BJBTango is offering a ‘Beginner Boot Camp’ throughout March. Taught by visiting tango extraordinaire Eddy Hernandez, the classes will be fun, hot and intensive. Learn the basics, and maybe even more, over the 8-week course, and you’ll be heating up the floor in no time. Single classes are also available if you just want to drop in.  

Thursdays Mar 8-29, 7.20pm; Sundays Mar 10-31, 2.30pm; RMB200 (single class), RMB1,200 (8-class package); Hot Cat Club (to register, add WeChat ID: Ellebanna891).

Mar 9: The fin.

Japanese indie rockers The fin. have conquered audiences the world over – including at South by Southwest – with their blend of synth-pop, chillwave and dreampop. "We get inspired touring other countries,” frontman Yuto Uchino told That’s in 2017. "We meet new people, listen to new bands and take back all these experiences into our music. There’s quite a lot of elements in our music right now that come from playing abroad.”

The fin. started out as a cover band of The Strokes before adding more psychedelic elements into their music inspired by the likes of Beach House and Tame Impala. Witness the magic yourself at their Yugong Yishan gig. 

Fri Mar 9; RMB180 (door), RMB150 (presale); Yugong Yishan, see event listing (www.newnoise.cn for more info)

Mar 9-10: Generations From Exile Tribe  

J-Pop sensations Generations From Exile Tribe (or just Generations, as they’re often called) have toured around the world since 2012. This is your chance to see a Japanese boy band perform in Beijing. Do not take this lightly. 

Fri Mar 9 and Sat Mar 10, 7pm; RMB343-1346; Beijing Exhibition Theater (for more information or for tickets, visit www.douban.com).

Mar 10: Pinch 

Antidote and Street Kids are teaming up to present Pinch, a Bristol-based dubstep legend. One of the biggest names in dubstep, Pinch has played multiple Boiler Room sets, and runs respected dubstep label Tectonic Recordings. 

Sat Mar 10, tickets TBD; Dada.

Mar 10-11: Spring Fever Ski Break 2018   

Jing-A is hosting its legendary spring break ski trip for the third year in a row, and this is one bus you do want to be on. The weekend’s festivities cover ski or snowboard rental, lift passes, dinner and, most importantly, free flow on a selection of Jing-A beers. Suds will be poured on the bus, at the mountain base and at dinner. Get excited.

Sat Mar 10-Sun Mar 11; RMB1,700; Wanlong Ski Resort, Chongli 崇礼万龙滑雪场 (tickets via https://yoopay.cn/event/skibreak2018)

Mar 10-11: Li Bai 

See legendary Chinese poet Li Bai’s work come to life in this eponymous dance drama. The Tang dynasty bard is known for his graceful verses – he was even nicknamed the ‘poet god’ in later centuries – making a dance production a particularly fitting adaptation for the writer’s poetry.

Sat Mar 10-Sun Mar 11, 7pm; RMB240-RMB500; Drama Theatre of NCPA, 2 Xi Chang’an Jie, Xicheng 西城区西长安街2号 (tickets via sales@theatrebeijing.com)

Mar 23: Egyptian Lover  

A pioneer of West Coast hip-hop and electro rap, Los Angeles rapper and producer Egyptian Lover will be stopping off at Dada. The artist rose to fame in the early 80s, paving the way for West Coast rappers that came after (think Dr Dre and Eazy E). A lot has changed since then – but Egyptian Lover still records entirely on analog equipment.  

Fri Mar 23, tickets TBD; Dada.

Mar 23-25: Beijing Invitational Craft Beer Festival  

Beijing and craft beer go hand-in-hand like roadside chuan’r and gutter oil – and that’s all thanks to Great Leap, the capital’s original microbrewery. The hawkers of the Honey Ma not only serve damn tasty brews, but they also throw a mighty fine festival. Witness the boozy glory for yourself at their Fourth Beijing Invitational Craft Beer Festival. 

Breweries from around the world will be descending upon Beijing for a weekend of tasting sessions, and this year’s got quite the lineup: Breweries from America, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, New Zealand, Australia and more will all be here serving fresh kegs of their best beers. A ticket to any of the weekend’s tasting sessions gives you free-flow beers, canapés provided by TRB, and the chance to meet brewers from around the world. And for the serious hop heads, tickets for a 5-course TRB brunch with beer pairings are also available. 

Fri Mar 23-Sun Mar 25; RMB200 (single session), RMB488 (brunch), RMB550 (weekend pass, good for three sessions), RMB988 (all access pass, entrance to all sessions and brunch); TRB Copper (tickets are available at all Great Leap Brewing locations, as well as online at https://www.247tickets.com/t/beijing-invitational-craft-beer-festival)

Mar 24: Spring Showcase  

If you love food, photography and music – and lets face it, who doesn’t? – then check out Yue Space, because, for one day this month, you can enjoy all three at the culture hub. The venue will host a food market and photography exhibition in the afternoon and a gig in the evening (8.30pm).

Don’t miss Chinese musician Mo Xizi as he showcases his new album, Yuegang Baidehen. According to the folk-rock musician: “Music is a part. It should be performed live, and not live in a box, but fun, and free.” The artist’s new album combines electric guitar, bass and keyboard for a ‘wild’ sound.

Sat Mar 24, 2pm-late; RMB180 (door), RMB150 (presale); Yue Space (tickets via wap.showstart.com/event/45159)

Mar 25: Cookie Monster Charity Bake-Off Competition

Beijing’s most carbtastic annual event is back for its fifth year. The Hutong and LumDimSum.com will be judging the cookies of the capital, and while it’s too late for you to enter your own recipe, anyone can come taste the delicious spread on offer. Your ticket will get you sample bites of all 15 cookies, plus a glass of warm milk. The Hutong will also serve hot chocolate and hot toddys.  

Sun Mar 25, RMB150 (RMB100 for Hutong members); The Hutong.

Mar 25: Wild Great Wall BBQ 

Explore a new part of the Great Wall this month with Beijing Experience’s BBQ tour. The crew will take you to an untouched stretch of the wall for a rugged feast of craft sausages, Uruguayan beef, homemade pies and wine and beer to wash it all down.

Sun Mar 25, 8.45am; RMB550 (including transportation, food and drinks); meet at Dongzhimen subway station (book via WeChat: 13071139166)

Mar 27: Jane Eyre  

Chapterhouse Theatre brings its production of Jane Eyre to the capital for an evening of gothic intrigue, complicated relationships and feminist awakening. Jane – she’s just like us, really.

Tue Mar 27, 7pm; RMB60-280; Rulun Lecture Hall of Renmin University (tickets via en.damai.cn)

Mar 28: Zedd  

Think you don’t know Zedd? Think again – the DJ’s hits have charted the world over. Surely you’ve heard ‘Break Free,’ his collab with Ariana Grande. Or perhaps you’ve heard ‘Clarity,’ his track with British singer Foxes that won him a Grammy for Best Dance Recording. And you’ve definitely heard ‘Stay,’ featuring Alessia Cara, the single that lingered on the Billboard Hot 100 for weeks of 2017. And then there’s ‘The Middle,’ which debuted at last month’s Super Bowl and has been on Spotify’s Top Hits chart ever since. 

Maybe you actually haven’t heard any of these. And maybe that doesn’t matter. Because what does matter is that Zedd’s show at Sir Teen is going to be certifiably crazy and undeniably danceable. Book in advance. 

Wed Mar 28, RMB260 (presale); Sir Teen, visit weidan.com for tickets.

Through March 

Thurs-Sun: 8-BIT Pop-up  

The OG hutong gaming bar, 8-BIT, is back, but in Shuangjing – and only for a little while, as vegan restaurant Root Pop hosts the arcade bar pop-up through May. Expect chill vibes, old school music, a classic lineup of games  and tasty grub.

Thu-Sun, through May, 8pm-late; Root Pop.

Thursdays: Pop Punch @ Mesh  

Congratulations: We’ve now reached the point in history in which the early 2000s can be properly considered ‘throwback.’ This is cause for celebration, and that’s exactly what Mesh is doing – with Thursday nights dedicated to the pop hits of the late 90s and early 00s. What’s more, from 7-9pm, dangerously delicious punch bowls are buy-one-get-one – if that doesn’t make you feel like a Spice Girl, we don’t know what will. 

Thursdays, 7pm-1am; Mesh.

Weekends: Brunch Specials at Migas Mercado    

Migas Mercado has created a menu of brunch-ready Spanish dishes to warm up your weekend. Options include family-sized shareables like their popular seafood paella as well as individuals like avocado cannelloni stuffed with crab salad. 

Weekends, 11.30am-2.30pm; Migas Mercado.

Daily: Afternoon Coffee at Hulu  

TRB’s new affordable concept Hulu (see our review, p. 58) is extra affordable for coffee breaks. For just RMB58, you can grab both a coffee of your choice and one of their luxuriously fluffy soufflés (we’re partial to the one that comes drowning in Grand Marnier). 

Daily, 2-4pm; Hulu.