This long holiday-weekend is the perfect occasion to really enjoy the numerous activities Beijing has to offer. Even though the so awaited annual music festival MIDI has been cancelled, many concerts by talented local and foreign artists will still be held in the Chinese capital. Do not miss them!

Exhibitions

Sun Xun: Coal Enchanting
May 2nd-June 1st. Presentation of an animation film entirely designed by hand, as well as different art installations related to it.
Where: Platform China 798 Project Space: 319-1 East End Art (Zone A), Caochangdi Village, Chaoyang District. 朝阳区草场地村319-1 艺术东区A区内
Tel: 64.38.84.51

Shinjiro Okamoto: The Philosophy of Humor
May 3rd-25th. Laughter is generally associated with shallowness. However, the works of this artist prove this idea wrong. Made between 1950 and 2001, these works explore the world of the Japanese "manga" creations and its lively colors.
Where: Dashanzi art district, 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District. 朝阳区酒仙桥路4号798大山子艺术区
Tel: 84.57.32.45

Movie

Playtime
May 3rd and 4th. Third apparition of Mr. Hulot in this Jacques Tati's classic.
Time: See http://www.ccfpekin.org/
Where: French Cultural Center: 16 Gongti Xilu, Chaoyang District. 朝阳区工体西路16号
Tel: 65.53.26.27

Belleville's Triplets
May 3rd and 4th. Having been a success both among the public and the critics, this classic of animation filmography is available in the capital, and suitable to all ages.
Time: See http://www.ccfpekin.org/
Where: French Cultural Center: 16 Gongti Xilu, Chaoyang District. 朝阳区工体西路16号
Tel: 65.53.26.27

Street Life
May 4th. Zhao Dayong's documentary telling the stories of migrant workers who become street vandals in Shanghai.
Time: 8:00pm
Where: Yugong Yishan: 2-3 Zhang Zizhong Road, Dongcheng District. 东城区张自忠路2-3号段祺瑞执政府旧址西院
Tel: 64.04.27.11

Theater

China Handicap Group: My dream
May 1st - 3rd. With almost 20 years of working experience, this group got the title of professional in 2002. Their choreographies of the Goddess of the Thousand Arms is amazingly known world-wide.
Time: 7:30pm
Price: 80-580 RMB
Where: NCPA : 2 Chang'an Jie, Xicheng District.西城区西长安街2号
Tel: 66.55.00.00

National Ballet: The Peony Pavilion
May 2nd - 7th. The Peony Pavilion, one of Kunqu's classics, tells the story of an impossible love at the times of a too conservative feudal society.
Time: 7:30pm
Price: 180-1280 RMB
Where: Tianqiao Theater: 30 Beiwei Lu, Xuanwu District. 宣武区北纬路30号
Tel: 83.15.63.00

Concerts

Mini Midi
May 1st - 3rd. Yan Jun offers a mini-version of what should have been his experimental music concert at the cancelled MIDI festival.
Time: See http://www.minimidi.cn/
Price: Free
Where: 2 kolegas: 21 Liangmaqiao Lu, north of Chaoyang Park, Chaoyang District.朝阳区亮马桥路21号 
Tel: 81.96.48.20

Club 13 Heavy Metal Festival 
May 1st - 2nd. The program includes Raging Mob, Gammalux, Dengel, and TNT, among others.
Time: 9:00pm
Price 60 RMB (both days), 40 RMB (one day)
Where: Club 13: 161 Chengfu Lu Lanqiying Bus Stop. On an alley next to Da Waguan Restaurant, Haidian District. 海淀区成府路蓝旗营车站下车，马路南边即是(瓦罐饭馆的西边)
Tel: 82.61.92.13

Hussy Hicks 
May 1st. Two rockers from Brisbane. At first, invited to participate in the MIDI festival, their presentation is not confirmed yet. We advise you to call in advance.
Time: 9:30pm
Price: Free
Where: Stone Boat Cafe: Lakeside, Ritan Park's southwest corner, Chaoyang District. 朝阳区日坛公园里，湖边
Tel: 65.01.99.86

Yerboli and IZ
May 1st. Music straight from Kazakhstan, by Maner and his group IZ.
Time: 9:00pm
Price: 30 RMB
Where: Yugong Yishan: 2-3 Zhang Zizhong Road, Dongcheng District  东城区张自忠路2-3号段祺瑞执政府旧址西院
Tel: 64.04.27.11

24 Hours, AV Okubo, Candy Monster, Molds, Ourselves Beside Me and Snapline
May 2nd. Once more, a concert featuring D-22's regulars.
Time: 10:00pm
Price: 40-60 RMB
Where: D-22 : 242 Chengfu Lu (two doors West of 13 Club), Haidian District. 海淀区成府路242号
Tel: 62.65.31.77

Nathaniel Gao's Quartet
May 2nd. Jazz concert to refresh from the very rich rock music scene of Beijing.
Time: 10:00pm
Price: Free
Where: OT Lounge: 6 Ritan Lu, Chaoyang District. 朝阳区日坛路6号
Tel: 65.02.57.22

Yin Ts'ang and MC Webber
May 2nd. Organized by the members of Section 6, this concert aims to introduce a large number of local rappers in the musical panorama of the capital.
Time: 9:00pm
Precio: 30 RMB
Where: Yugong Yishan: 2-3 Zhang Zizhong Road, Dongcheng District  东城区张自忠路2-3号段祺瑞执政府旧址西院
Tel: 64.04.27.11

Yirule
May 2nd. Rock straight from Mongolia.
Time: 9:30pm
Price: Free, must consume at least 20 RMB.
Where: Jiangjinjiu: 2 Zhongku Hutong, Dongcheng District. 东城区钟库胡同2号
Tel: 84.05.01.24

Demerit, SMZB, Angry Jerks, Fanzui Xiangfa, Overdose(Nanjing), RWF
May 3rd. The show goes on with this new selection of punk bands.
Time: 10:00pm
Price: 40-60 RMB
Where: D-22: 242 Chengfu Lu (two doors West of 13 Club), Haidian District. 海淀区成府路242号
Tel: 62.65.31.77

Gloaming: Mando Diao
May 3rd. New edition of Stone Boat's acoustic nights, this time with a Swedish rock band.
Time: 8:00pm
Price: Free
Where: Stone Boat Cafe: Lakeside, Ritan Park's Southwest corner, Chaoyang District. 朝阳区日坛公园里，湖边
Tel 65.01.99.86

Yerboli et Di Ku Ai
May 3rd. Two new folk bands in the local scene, coming straight from Kazakhstan and the Chinese city of Lanzhou, respectively.
Where: Jiangjinjiu: 2 Zhongku Hutong, Dongcheng District. 东城区钟库胡同2号
Tel: 84.05.01.24

Proximity Butterfly
May 3rd. Chengdu rock group on tour celebrating the launching of their latest album. Zhao Ze warms up the crowd first.
Time: 9:00pm
Price: 40 RMB
Where: Club 13: 161 Chengfu Lu Lanqiying Bus Stop. On an alley next to Da Waguan Restaurant, Haidian District.海淀区成府路蓝旗营车站下车，马路南边即是(瓦罐饭馆的西边)
Tel: 82.61.92.13

Nightlife

Mayday I
May 1st. Terry Tu, Gao Hu and Pancake Lee show keep the crowd moving in this first techno party of the month.
Time: 11:00pm
Price: 50 RMB, free with Beijing Techno Union card.
Where: i-Ultra: Block 8, Apartment 8 Complex, Chaoyang Gongyuan Xilu, Chaoyang District  朝阳区朝阳公园西路8号公馆
Tel: 65.08.85.85

Midi After-Party
May 1st. DJs Flo Eysler, Harry, Mansun Liu, Dio, Mael Blackie, Sara C and Siesta will keep you moving to the tunes of house music.
Time: 10:00pm
Precio: 30 RMB
Where: White Rabbit: C2, Haoyun Jie (Lucky Street), 29 Zaoying Lu, Chaoyang District.朝阳区枣营路29号好运街C2
Tel: 133.21.12.36.78

Midi After-Party
May 2nd. This time is DJs Deysun, Eddie lv, Jerry K, Patrice Yu, Sebastian Bayne, Ben Huang, Mickey Zhang and Yang Bing who will keep u moving to the tunes of techno-house.
Time: 10:00pm
Price: 30 RMB
Where: White Rabbit: C2, Haoyun Jie (Lucky Street), 29 Zaoying Lu, Chaoyang District. 朝阳区枣营路29号好运街C2
Tel: 133.21.12.36.78

Antidote @ White Rabbit
May 3rd. DJ Meng mixes electro-punk on the second floor, while Dj Antidote mixes electro-pop and Bhangra on the ground floor.
Time: 10:00pm
Price: 40 RMB
Where: White Rabbit: C2, Haoyun Jie (Lucky Street), 29 Zaoying Lu, Chaoyang District. 朝阳区枣营路29号好运街C2
Tel: 133.21.12.36.78

Beijing Cypher Dynasty Vol. 2
May 3rd. DJ Wordy and company use their music to liven up this break-dance contest. The winner takes home 1000 RMB.
Time: 9:00pm
Precio: 30 RMB
Where: Yugong Yishan: 2-3 Zhang Zizhong Road, Dongcheng District. 东城区张自忠路2-3号段祺瑞执政府旧址西院
Tel: 64.04.27.11

Cinco de Mayo Celebration
May 3rd. Latin Rythms celebrating Fiesta Nacional de Mexico.
Time: 10:00pm
Price: Free
Where: i-Ultra: Block 8, Apartment 8 Complex, Chaoyang Gongyuan Xilu, Chaoyang District. 朝阳区朝阳公园西路8号公馆
Tel: 65.08.85.85

Food

Raj Indian and Arab Kebab Garden
May 1st. Barbecue on the roof of Hutong not far from the Drum Tower.
Where: Raj: 31 Gulou Xidajie (West of Drum Tower), Xicheng District. 西城区鼓楼西大街31号
Tel: 64.01.16.75

Chinese Fondue by the Great Wall
May 3rd. Evening party on a farm, to better enjoy Nature pleasures.  
Time: 6:00pm
Price: 168 RMB (adults), 79 RMB (kids 4 - 12 years old).
Where: Xialumian: 12 Mutianyu Village, Huairou District. 怀柔区慕田峪村12号
More details: 61.62.65.06, or http://www.schoolhousecanteen.com/

Merguez Party
May 2nd. Merguez (kind of sausage) barbecue, sandwiches and wine.
Time: 7:00pm - 10:00pm.
Where: La Baie des Anges: 5 Nanguanfang Hutong (right South of Hutong Pizza), Houhai, Xicheng District. 西城区后海南官房胡同5号（胡同批萨南边）
Tel: 66.57.16.05

Sports and leisure

Boat race
May 1st - 3rd. Celebrating the beginning of the Sailing Season 2008, Beijing Sailing offers courses to beginners and  those with intermediate level.
More details: http://www.beijingsailing.com/