Jun 1-10: Tales of Bali

Bali is known for some of the best beaches in Asia – but it’s also known for having amazing food. The Ritz-Carlton, Beijing are inviting chefs from their Bali counterpart to celebrate a Bali food festival for 10 days. Featuring guest chefs from The Ritz-Carlton, Bali, Arfandi Nasution and I Wayan Suyipno, expect traditional Balinese food with top-notch ingredients. 

Fri Jun 1 to Sun Jun 10, 11.30am-2pm and 6-10pm; RMB368/person for lunch, RMB448/person for dinner, RMB618/person for weekend brunch; Aroma (lobby level) @ The Ritz-Carlton Beijing, see event listing.

Jun 2: Beijing Short Indie Festival

Attention film lovers: Camera Stylo will be hosting a mini-festival of sorts. This year you can expect to enjoy 10 short films over the course of one evening. Three VR films will also be featured. 

Sat Jun 2, 6-11pm; RMB75 (includes one drink); Camera Stylo, see event listing.

Jun 2: Children's Day Flea Market

The Children’s Flea Market is a special one this year. Hosted by The Local, the flea market has an exclusive partner: The World Wildlife Fund). With more than 30 vendors, you’ll find everything from organic food to English-language books and more. Plus, children will have the chance to volunteer for WWF with gifts and activities provided by WWF representatives. As well as vendors, look out for workshops, like paper folding. For vintage lovers young and old. 

Sat Jun 2, 11am-6pm; The Local, see event listing.

Jun 3: Hand in Hand International Children's Music Festival

Hand in Hand is China’s first international kid-friendly music festival created for families. Liu Jian founded Hand in Hand International Children’s Music Festival, China’s first touring rock festival for families, along with his wife, American journalist Rebecca Kanthor. The motive is to bring inspiring bands for children from around the world to China and to have families enjoy quality music while spending time with their children.

Sun Jun 3, 10am, 2pm and 5pm shows; Beijing Exhibition Center, see event listing. Buy tickets here.

Jun 9: Devendra Banhart

Freak folk, folk rock, psychedelic folk – call it what you will, but Devendra Banhart isn’t interested in being put in a box. The singersongwriter is a genre-bending master who plays by his own rules. He’s casually eccentric and delightfully unpredictable, crooning in English one minute and Spanish the next – even German at times. Over the course of his nine albums, the unconventional shapeshifter has remained a mystery, having created his own indefinable style. His June show at Yugong Yishan with Grammy-winning musician Noah Georgeson marks his Beijing debut.

Sat Jun 9, 8.30pm; RMB180 (presale), RMB240 (door); Yugong Yishan, see event listing. Buy tickets here.

Jun 9: The Color Run

The Color Run returns to Beijing this month. The self-described “Happiest 5k on the Planet” encourages participants to dress as superheroes and run like the Flash. Unlike so many running events, the Color Run all about inclusivity and letting everyone have a go. With no official times and no winners, even your not-so-fast friends can have a blast dousing each other in colorful paint. Registration includes loads of free goodies, an official T-shirt and of course, paint. 

Sat Jun 9, 9am and 2.30pm; RMB288/person; Beijing Garden Expo Park, see event listing. Buy tickets here.

Jun 9: White River Hike

Four hours, 12km and one big canyon: That’s what Biking Hikers promise for their big White River Hike in Miyun district. The master hikers are plotting their own route close to the river, but away from the crowds. A much-needed escape from the city. 

Sat Jun 9, 8am; RMB420 (RMB380 for members, to reserve or for more information visit www.beijinghikers.com or call 6432 2876), see event listing.

Jun 10: Sleep Party People

Brian Batz, or Sleep Party People, grew up on Bornholm, a picturesque but isolated Danish island with less than 40,000 inhabitants. So his first tour of China in 2015 was pretty shocking. The lonesome beauty of Batz’ childhood home plays a major role in the development of Sleep Party People’s wistful, brooding dreampop. The solo artist is poised to return to China for a six-city tour this month.

Sun Jun 10; RMB120 (presale), RMB150 (door); Mao Livehouse Beijing, see event listing.

Jun 10: Sophie Zelmani

Sophie Zelmani has released eight top 10 albums in Sweden over the course of her career. Now, the Swedish singer is coming to Beijing to serenade us with her delicate folk vocals. If you’re a fan of Norah Jones, or just like people with great voices and stories to tell, this is not to be missed. 

Sun Jun 10, 7.30pm; RMB180-580; Rulun Lecture Hall of Renmin University, see event listing. Buy tickets here.

Jun 10:  Mike Vecchione 

Shanghai’s Kung Fu Komedy brings American comedian Mike Vecchione to the capital this month. A regular on Comedy Central – he has his own half-hour special – Vecchione has won numerous awards including a People’s Choice Award in 2010. 

Sun Jun 10, 8pm; RMB100 (students), RMB150 (advance), RMB180 (door); The Bookworm, see event listing.

Jun 14-18: 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'

One of Shakespeare’s most-beloved comedies centers on the marriage of Theseus, the Duke of Athens, to Hippolyta, the former queen of the Amazons. This edition is directed by Chris White, a practitioner for the Royal Shakespeare Company in the UK. 

Thu Jun 14-Mon Jun 18, 7pm; RMB180-380; NCPA, see event listing.

Jun 15: Robb Bank$

Only 23 and on his first world tour, Robb Bank$’s meteoric rise continues. While trap beats feature heavily, they are held at bay by the clever use of classic hip-hop grooves. Hard, aggressive vocals and floor-filling beats make Robb a young rapper you should keep an eye on. Touring his latest mixtape, Molly World, the release features samples of old school hip-hop and anime clips. 

Fri Jun 15, 10pm; RMB200 (advance), RMB260 (door); Hustle Club, see event listing. Buy tickets here.

Jun 15: Protomartyr

This grungy Detroit four-piece plays Yue Space this month. Joe Casey’s vocals are a mix between Ian Curtis and Nick Cave, while the sound is very much 1970’s British post-punk. With cutting guitars and deep bass, expect to come out of this gig with your shirt stuck to your body. 

Fri June 15; 8.30pm; RMB120 (advanced), RMB140 (door); Yue Space, see event listing.

Jun 16: Skylar Spence

New Yorker Skylar Spence’s catchy vaporwave features a mixture of funky electronic music combined with classy horns, making it some of the most fun and refreshing electronic funk on the scene. Spence first made waves on Soundcloud, and is now on the precipice of making it big. 

Sat June 16; 8.30pm; RMB120 (advanced), RMB150 (door); Yue Space, see event listing. Buy tickets here.

Jun 17: Father's Day

Mark it down on your calendar so you have no excuse to forget: Father’s Day this year is on Sunday, June 17. Hotels and restaurants across the city will be putting on festive brunches for dad’s special day, so stay tuned for our forthcoming guide. 

Sun June 17

Jun 17: DIY Skincare Workshop

Instead of spending hundreds of kuai on skincare, why not make your own version – and with natural ingredients to boot? Now you can, thanks to Swannie Veraspin, who holds monthly DIY skincare workshops at her place. Each participant gets to take his or her handcrafted natural beauty products – and the recipe – back home. Learn how to make deodorant and coffee scrub at the June event. 

Sun Jun 17, 10.30am; RMB150; venue will be shared upon registration (for more info add the WeChat ID: ninisnowy), see event listing.

Jun 17 & 18: 'Swan Lake' Ballet

The Shanghai Ballet will be performing a version of ‘Swan Lake’ by master choreographer Derek Deane, who is credited with bringing a number of innovations to the ballet. For this round of performances with the Shanghai Ballet, Deane has orchestrated an unprecedented ‘Swan Ocean’ set piece for the ballet’s most climactic scenes. 

Sun Jun 17-Mon Jun 18, 7.30pm; RMB100-600; Opera House of the NCPA, see event listing. Buy tickets here.

Jun 18: Dragon Festival DIY Gourmet Zongzi

Arguably the best part about Dragon Boat Festival – apart from the day off work – is devouring zongzi (sticky rice and other ingredients wrapped in bamboo leaves). Treat yourself by making zongzi yourself at The Hutong’s ‘Gourmet Zongzi’ cooking class. Learn how to fold the bamboo leaves and tie up the packages of carby goodness. Hao chi. 

Mon Jun 18, 10.30am-1pm; RMB260 (members), RMB300; The Hutong, see event listing.

Jun 21: 10th Anniversary Celebrations at The Westin Beijing Chaoyang

The Westin Beijing Chaoyang are putting on a host of events to celebrate turning 10, centered around the theme of “well-being.” Events include a cooking class for you and the kids in conjunction with Noob Huang, a running-and-barre day of fitness with SpaceCycle, and special perks for Westin guests. 

Begins Thu Jun 21; The Westin Beijing Chaoyang, see event listing.

Jun 23: Suuns

Suuns are taking their latest record Felt on a China tour through Shanghai, Beijing and Shenzhen this month – their first foray onto the Mainland. The band is known for putting on an engrossing live show, bewitching audiences with their unclassifiable compositions – so it’s likely the music will speak for itself.

Sat Jun 23, 9pm, RMB147 (presale), RMB167 (door); Yue Space, see event listing.

Jun 23: Hedgehog

One of Beijing’s favorite indie rock outfits, Hedgehog, perform a hometown show this month. With music that draws from 2000s British indie, Hedgehog’s reputation has steadily grown over the past few years in both China and abroad, and the band has toured the US (with experimental rock band Xiu Xiu) as well as Australia and Europe. A triumphant return for the well-traveled trio. 

Sat June 23, 8.30pm; RMB130 (advance), RMB180 (door); Omni Space, see event listing.

Jun 29: Dirty Fingers

After shaking up Shanghai’s music scene with their brash and charismatic punk, Dirty Fingers are putting on a China tour and crowdfunding campaign to raise money for their first world tour. Help out the rowdy punk rockers and catch their show at Yugong Yishan at the end of the month.

Fri Jun 29, tickets TBD; Yugong Yishan, see event listing.

Jun 29: Jun Kamoda

Japanese electronic musician Jun Kamoda will be at Dada for ultrapopular night Organic’s 2nd Birthday Party. Spinning a blend of loopy Balearic p-funk, afro acid and classic big room house with a taste of disco, Kamoda has been making waves in the Japanese electronic scene for almost 15 years now. Support comes from DJs Juhstynn and Marc Alexr. 

Fri Jun 29; tickets TBD; Dada, see event listing.

Through June

Comedy at The Bookworm

On the first and third Thursday of each month, Comedy Club China will hold comedy nights at The Bookworm, and the best thing about it is that it’s free. So enjoy watching your favorite Beijing comedians tell vulgar jokes in the same space where worldrenowned authors give talks on international relations. 

First and third Thursdays of each month, 8pm; free; The Bookworm, see event listing.

Birthday Deals at Hulu

Hulu has just celebrated being open for 100 days, and in honor of that, the popular restaurant is offering great deals for birthday boys and girls. On your birthday, if you spend over RMB600 as a table, you’ll get a bottle of either J. Laurens (RMB280), Domaine Saltis (RMB198) or Le Petit Saint Jacques (RMB198) absolutely free. So round up your friends and family and head over for some of their great sharing plates. 

Ongoing; Hulu, see event listing.

World Cup 2018 at Xian

Good news for soccer fans (and their friends): Xian at EAST Beijing is building three massive viewing screens especially for the tournament. Consider this your opportunity to drink great beer and eat high-quality pub grub while watching your team crash spectacularly out of the tournament in disappointing fashion. Fans can hang out in both the comfortable interior of the bar as well as outside at Xian’s Craft Container. With the World Cup held in Russia this year, the time difference is almost perfect (anyone who was based here during Brazil 2014 will remember how awful that time difference was – it was a lot of 6am games). Plus, fans can enjoy great deals on craft beer with Xian's "Match Day" packages (starting from RMB328/two people), which include six craft beers and a choice of any two snacks from their specially-made World Cup snack menu. 

During World Cup matches, through July; Xian Bar @ EAST Beijing, see event listing.

'Acquiring Identity' Exhibition

Zhao Gang, one of China’s original avant-garde artists, was a founding member of the renowned Stars Group at only 18 and has gone on to showcase his contemporary work around the world. Currently residing in both New York and Beijing, his latest exhibition ‘Acquiring Identity’ will delve into his own position as an artist and as a prominent figure in Beijing’s cultural community. The exhibition also speaks to both his own experience of living in a tiny Beijing apartment in the 80s, as well as moving to New York and appreciating the city’s cafe culture. 

Tue-Sun, through Jul 10; Long March Space @ 798 Art District, see event listing.

100 Days of Summer BBQ 

JW Marriot Hotel Beijing is doing summer right. The hotel is holding its legendary outdoor BBQ for the third year in a row. Think beautiful steak, delicious lamb chops and grilled-to-perfection chicken. If top-quality food isn’t enough to entice you, then just know that every single diner has the chance to win round-trip tickets with Thai Airways in the lucky draw. 

Wed-Sat through Sep 2, 6-10pm; RMB458/person; Asia Bistro @ JW Marriot Hotel Beijing, see event listing.

Have an event to list? Head here to list your upcoming event. We’ll choose the best new additions to feature on next week’s edition of ‘What's On in Beijing.' Not sure where to start? Here's a full guide on how to list your upcoming events on our website.