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Beijing museums, attractions, events and cultural trips

Latest Features

Niu Xiangling on Ying Ruocheng: Arts writer Niu tells us about her favourite Beijinger, a brilliant and multilingual actor

China Slump: The world's property boom has taken a rapid nosedive but where does China fit into all this?

Tipsy taxi: Meet Deng Kaimin, a chauffeur who drives people home in their own cars when they’ve had too much to drink.

Locker rocker: The emo kids are sure to love Beijing band Tookoo's new album

Dry rock: With Demain La Glorie, Beijing pop-punkers Sober offer a catchy but ultimately forgettable album

The Essential Guide to China: A new three-CD collection highlights classical Chinese instruments, famous movie scores and meditation music

Chilling out this summer: From half-price movie theaters to ice cream shops to skating rinks, Time Out finds some frosty spots where kids can keep their cool

Another bullet in the head?: Master of the Hong Kong action movie and protracted shoot out scene, director John Woo releases his first Chinese film this month, after a stint in Hollywood. But a stuntman dying on his set was just the latest in a series of setbacks

Family Ties: Harrowing tales of tortured familial relations are standard in Chinese cinema, but Zhang Jiabei's visually stunning Cherries (now on DVD) is distinguished by some outstanding performances and its subtle evocation of the texture of southern rural life

She says, he says: This month our counselling couple sounds off on how to tell your beau what you like in bed and whether it's OK to make a play for your married boss

Confession time: Our sex columnist explains why she hates Sex and the City – and sex columnists

Take me to a gaydar: One of the most popular gay websites plans on launching a Chinese edition. Will it work?

Homo:genius July 2008: This month: The Ministry of Health denies blood donations from homosexuals, actor Leung Yu Chung is in hot water and more

What if…: What if the Taiping Rebellion hadn't been put down? What if the Kuomintang had succeeded in developing a modern nation? Jonathan Fenby, author of the new Penguin History of Modern China, looks at key points in China's history and wonders how it might have all turned out differently

Zeng Fanzhi: China's most expensive artist shows four pieces at ShanghArt

Li Zhanyang: At Galerie Urs Meile, the artist re-imagines the famous 1965 sculpture "Rent Collection Yard" and depicts Chinese contemporary art stars

Teased to perfection: Current hit Hairspray comes to Beijing dressed for success with outlandish characters, big dance numbers and sky-high 'dos

Riverdance: The Irish dance spectacle that's been jigging around the world for 13 years comes to Beijing July 24 to 27

Stress in the city: Are you about to blow your top Bruce Banner style? Turns out you're not alone. Dr Caroline Simons explains how to control your anger

Kitchen confidential: From searching for the perfect soup dumplings to working for a celebrity chef, Jen Lin-Liu's Serve the People: A Stir Fried Journey Through China takes the pulse of China's culinary scene

Arrested English: In an extract from his new book about life in a Beijing hutong, Michael Meyer explains how Beijing's police officers have been taught English ahead of the Olympics

Splash landing: Beijing may be land-locked, but the city still has plenty of places to cool off in this summer. Check out the top outdoor swimming spots

Our Chinese Daughters Foundation: Helping adopted Chinese daughters learn about their birthplace

Fast track your career: How coaching can help you climb the corporate ladder

Shall we dance?: Hot to (fox) trot? Check out one of Beijing's best dance classes

Great Wall camping: Escape from the Beijing bustle and spend the night exploring the Great Wall

Are Beijingers ready to ditch the cigarettes?: There are over 350 million of them, and one in three cigarettes smoked in the world are smoked in China, according to the World Health Organization.

Maker, meet faker: Contemporary artist Sheng Qi heads to a faker's studio with Toby Skinner and Denise Fung to critique a forged copy of his art

The A-Z of Peking Opera

The man who conquered the world: Mei Lanfang is revered today as the man who brought Jingju to the world stage.

Revival of the shrillest: Is Peking Opera ready for a comeback? After years of decline, suddenly there's blockbuster film in the making, the opening of a specialist theatre and a slot in the new school curriculum

Modern art, ancient setting: A new contemporary art museum nestled snugly against the walls of the Forbidden City? Sounds too good to be true, especially when coupled with an innovative curatorial vision at odds with the art scene's prevailing commercial ethos, writes Dan Edwards.

The West: Time Out journeys to the capital's West side

Blind massage 101: Haven't tried a blindman massage yet? Learn the history of this Beijing institution – and our favourite massage spots

Literary Beijing: Tour the haunts of some of Beijing's best-known writers

Beijing markets: Instead of heading to Beijing's markets on a shopping mission, go to the more quirky ones and just enjoy the atmosphere. It's a guaranteed good day out

Art classes for kids: Beijing offers plenty of inspiration for budding Picassos. Whether it's painting, drawing, pottery or jewellery-making, Time Out finds out where kids can get creative in the capital

Amusement parks: If you're stuck for ideas about where to take the kids, try one of Beijing's amusement parks in the outskirts of the city. Time Out spins, loops and rides its way around the best places to scream your head off

Golf lessons for kids: Golf used to be seen as the ultimate bourgeois activity but now increasing numbers of Chinese parents, whether to prepare them for the world of business or to burn a few calories, are sending to learn how to tee off

Secrets of the city: From out of the way restaurants and tatty old flea markets to mountain retreats and ancient temples, Time Out goes in search of 50 of Beijing's most exciting hidden spots

Extreme sports: If your last rush was biting into a chili during a Sichuan meal you might want to consider trying something a bit more adventurous like extreme sports. Here's how to get your heart-rate pumping

Music lessons: Inspired by Beijing's diverse musical scene? If do-ray-me-fa-la-SO, it's time you picked up an instrument and learnt how to play: Time Out shows you how

Fortune tellers: Ever wondered what's in store for the future? Time Out tracks down the city's fortune tellers (surely they were expecting us?) and finds out more...

Chinese cookery classes: Don't know one Chinese dish from another? There's no need to duck the issue any longer: Time Out heads back to the classroom and discovers how to cook Chinese style

Hot spring resorts: When winter in Beijing leaves us cold, Time Out heads to the burbs for an alfresco steam at a hot spring resort. Bring your bathers, a swimming cap and a sense of fun

Ice skating: Beijing winters are legendarily chilly: keep warm by lacing up some rented skates and heading to some of the city's most picturesque frozen lakes for a twirl on the ice

Bike ride routes: When in Beijing, do as Beijingers do and pedal to the metal. Time Out suggests where you can hire a bike and enjoy the city's most picturesque and cycle-friendly routes

Wine tasting: The best way to pick the wine for you is to try before you buy: Time Out tells you where you can sample a selection at an organised wine tasting. Ganbei!

Vineyard visits: For a taste of the best wine China's countryside wineries have to offer, escape from the city, wander round the vineyards and sample a glass or two

Fishing: Leave the city behind and banish Beijing blues with a spot of fishing in the countryside. Time Out wades through the options

Haunted houses: Headless prisoners, executed soldiers and faceless school girls: Beijing's turbulent history has caused many ghosts and ghouls to remain in the land of the living. Time Out discover some of the most haunted buildings in the city