What's up Guangzhou: August 19-25

August 20: Be My Valentine at Le Chinois

Be swept off your feet with a divine choice set menu at Le Chinois restaurant in Sofitel Guangzhou Sunrich. Prepare to gaze into your lover’s eyes as you sip on French sparkling wine and relax in a candle-lit setting complemented by decadent dining.

Cost: RMB988 (plus 15 percent)

When: 6pm-10pm

Where: Le Chinois, Sofitel Guangzhou Sunrich, 988 Guangzhou Dadao Zhong, Tianhe District 天河区广州大道中988号广州圣丰索菲特大酒店 (3883 8888)

August 20: Chinese Valentine’s Day Buffet

Create your own romantic tale at Foods, which features unlimited oysters paired with a free flow of sparkling rose wine. Couples can also take silhouette photos, hang blessing wishes on a wishing tree and end the memorable evening with a macaroon flower.

Cost: RMB688 net.

Where: The Ritz-Carlton, Guangzhou, 3 Xing’an Lu, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District 天河区珠江新城兴安路3号 (3813 6888)

August 6: Brewers & Union trivia at Hooley's

Register your team of four to five people before 8pm to enjoy some mind-bending trivia. Possible rounds include current events, history, general knowledge, geography and pop culture, among others. This week's trivia will also include a connection and photo round. 

Prizes for the top three teams and live music afterwards with The Vibe starting at 10pm.

Arrive early to guarantee you get a table. 

Cost: Free

When: 8.30-10pm

Where: No. 101, 8 Xingsheng Lu， Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District 天河区珠江新城兴盛路8号101 (3886 2675)

August 20: Ladies night at Revolucion

Rebellious ladies head to Revolucion Cocktail every Thursday to receive free flow select cocktails for free until midnight! 

Cost: Free

When: 6pm-12am

Where: 9 Xingsheng Lu, Tianhe District 天河区珠江新城兴盛路9号 (3802 9960)

August 20: Popface

[The above video requires a VPN]

Popface is an indie, shoegaze band formed in Stavanger, Norway. For 20 years, the band has perfected the balance between noise and silence, cascading between walls of electric guitars and the gentle whisper of acoustic melody. Looked upon for years as one of Norway’s finest live acts, the group is best known for its phenomenal live shows.

Cost: RMB60 presale, RMB80 on site

 When: 8.30-10.30pm

Where: T:Union, 361-365 Guangzhou Dadao Zhong, Yuexiu District 越秀区广州大道中361-365号东方花苑首层 (3659 7623)

August 21: Her Bright Skies (pictured above)

[The above video requires a VPN]

A Swedish post-hardcore band based in Jönköping, southern Sweden, Her Bright Skies (HBS) was formed in 2005 and released their first album in 2008. The group previously toured Europe and the US. This will be Her Bright Skies’ first tour in China, where the band will make seven stops – Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Xi’an and Wuhan.

Cost: RMB70 presale, RMB100 on site

When: 8.30-10pm

Where: T:Union, 361-365 Guangzhou Dadao Zhong, Yuexiu District 越秀区广州大道中361-365号东方花苑首层 (3659 7623)

August 21-23: Walls that Whisper

This is the second installment of talented artist Aurélia Thierrée, granddaughter of British comedian Charlie Chaplin. Designed and directed by her mother Victoria Thierrée Chaplin, Murmure des murs (Walls that Whisper) tells the story of a woman who flees from abandoned apartments haunted by old ghosts, only to be lurched into troubled lives of intimacy that are not hers.

Cost: RMB180-900

When: 2.30pm and 8pm

Where: Guangzhou Opera House, 1 Zhujiang Xi Lu, Tianhe District 天河区珠江西路1号广州大剧院 (3839 2888)

August 22: Magic Piano and The Chopin Shorts

From the Oscar-winning producers of Peter and the Wolf comes Magic Piano, a story of a young girl and her cousin Chip Chip who use a flying machine to tour Europe and find the girl’s father in London. The Chopin Shorts is made of four short animated films featuring lovable characters and slapstick humor. Multiple award-winning teenage pianist Zhang Haotian will play the soundtrack to accompany the classic stage performance, which is poised to sell out shortly. 

Cost: RMB80-280

When: 8pm

Where: Guangzhou Opera House, 1 Zhujiang Xi Lu, Tianhe District 天河区珠江西路1号广州大剧院 (3839 2888) 

August 22: The Sunset Party  

Head to La Villa Rouge, Guangzhou's first open-air club, this Saturday for a health dose of drinking and dancing. Six DJs will set the scene with a mix of nu dicso, deep house and techhouse.  [Update: Seven DJs will now be performing.]

Also, from 4-7pm, there will be a number of wicked food and drink deals to keep you moving and grooving. See below for details on food and drink specials: 

Cost: Free entry

When: 4-11pm

Where: 5 Zhujiang Xi Lu, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District (across from IFC main entrance) 天河区珠江新城珠江西路5号 (国际金融中心正门对面) (3832 5333)