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The Beijinger Blog

The Beijinger Blog

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Beijing News: Hot Summer Temps & Share Bike Pricing Changes

The Dog Days of Beijing's Summer Arrive Beijing's mild summer has come to an end as the city has entered the San Fu Tian (三伏天 sān fú tiān) period of the Chinese calendar, a summer period of around 30-40 days stretching from July to August, that essentially corresponds to the dog days of summer, or the hottest days of the year. As their name suggests, the San Fu Tian period is organized into three smaller groups of days: the Initial (Head) Fu, the Middle Fu and the Last Fu. This year's San Fu Tian occurs from Jul 15 to Aug 23, a period of 40 days that brings with it high heat and elevated humidity. Beijing San Fu Tian 2026 Initial Fu (Jul 15–Jul 24): 10 days Middle Fu (Jul 25–Aug 13): 20 days, the hottest period of the year Last Fu (Aug 14–Aug 23): 10 days Aug 24 will mark the official end of the San Fu Tian. The San Fu Tian have already made their impact felt, with one location in the city near the Bird's Nest registering an astounding high temperature of 41.3 °C on Jul 15. While upcoming temperatures may initially retreat a bit from the recent highs and there are expected thunderstorms on the horizon, the public is still reminded to take precautions against the sun and heat, and especially to take care to avoid heat stroke and heat exhaustion. City's Share Bikes See Pricing Changes Three share bike companies have recently made the joint decision to adjust their base riding fare, but it may not be as simple as just a price raise. Recently, Meituan, Didi Qingju and Hellobike have adjusted the starting rate for their share bikes in several cities from RMB 1.5/30 minutes to RMB 1.88-1.99/60 minutes. Specific pricing, however, depends on things like the location and day of your ride. For Meituan, the starting price has been adjusted to RMB 1.88/60 minutes on weekdays and weekends in the six main districts of the city, however other districts will keep the previous RMB 1.5/30 minutes rate on weekdays and weekends. For holidays, all districts in the city will have a rate of RMB 1.88/60 minutes, which is decreased from the previous RMB 2.5/60 minutes holiday rate. For Didi Qingju, the starting rate has been adjusted to RMB 1.99/60 minutes on weekdays and weekends. For Hellobike, the starting rate has been adjusted to RMB 1.99/60 minutes on weekdays. These changes don't necessarily work out to price increases across the board for any given ride. Previously, a 45-minute ride, being longer than the base 30-minute ride period, might have cost RMB 3. However, under the new rates, the same 45-minute ride, being shorter than the new base 60-minute ride period, would cost only RMB 1.88-1.99, an increase of RMB 0.38-0.49, but overall a decrease of RMB 1.01-1.12 for the ride of the same duration. The new share bike rates, then, seem positioned to benefit customers engaging in longer rides and customers riding on holidays. Provided:Paid:

2 days ago

Catch Award-Winning Comedian Ian Badenhorst in Beijing This Sat, Jul 11

South African comedian Ian Badenhorst will be hitting up Beijing this Saturday, Jul 11, with the comedy club version of his hit show My Life in China. Based in Shanghai, Badenhorst is a veteran of China's English-language comedy scene, having spent more than a decade in the industry where he's worked alongside numerous big international comedians who have visited China. Badenhorst has also made history as the first foreign entertainer to get a full-time visa for performing English stand-up comedy, paving the way for other international comics to pursue comedy as a full-time career. In 2025, he toured sold-out theaters nationwide with the Spicy Comedy All Stars, while his solo show My Life in China has earned praise from audiences and industry professionals for its relatable take on cultural differences, marriage and adapting to life in a new country. Ahead of his headline show in the capital, we caught up with Badenhorst to chat about his journey into stand-up, making comedy history in China and what audiences can expect this coming Saturday. How long have you been doing stand-up for, and what first got you into comedy? I've been doing stand-up comedy for just over ten years, and I've been headlining for about three of those. I've always been into entertainment, and I was a comedy producer for five years. I started performing because all the comedians I produced shows for insisted that I was funny enough to get on stage. In 2015, I made a New Year's resolution to do stand-up comedy before the end of the year, so on December 30, 2015, I got on stage for the first time. For those unfamiliar with you, how would you describe your style of comedy? The comedy that I do in China—which has been adjusted a lot for an international audience—is story-driven and anecdotal, as well as observational, with big act-outs and quite accessible humor. My personal sense of humor, though, is as I would describe it: quick-witted and a little dark sometimes. But this show is very positive. Provided:Paid:

1 week ago

Hit Up Beijing BBQ Fest This Dragon Boat Holiday!

Fire up your appetite, because it's almost time for Beijing BBQ Fest! Kicking off on Thursday, Jun 18, with a Soft Opening Vendor Fans Preview Session from 4pm-9pm and then running Jun 19 to 21, from 11am-9pm, join us for Beijing's biggest celebration of all things grilled. Get Your Early Bird Tickets Now! Snagging an early bird ticket means not only saving big but also scoring an exclusive freebie. Here's what's on offer: Early bird ticket: RMB 9.9Includes: BBQ Fest admission wristband Exclusive BBQ Fest Super Fans themed bandana On-site ticket: RMB 19.9Includes: BBQ Fest admission wristband Children under 1.2m accompanied by an adult get into the fest completely FREE! The venue is also pet-friendly, so furry friends are welcome! What are you waiting for?! Get your tickets now by scanning the QR code below! Free Fans! Every day of the fest, we will be giving out free BBQ Fest-themed fans to help keep you cool! We've only got 4,000 available each day, so you'll need to make sure to get the festival early if you want to nab one! The Vendors Bringing together 20+ vendors from across the capital, plus some out-of-town guests, get ready to indulge in a meat lover's paradise. We will have everything from classic American low-and-slow, to Brazilian churrasco, traditional Turkish grill, Beijing chuan'r as well as a wide range of barbecue specialties, from countries like Thailand, Mexico, Germany and beyond! There will also be plenty of beer, cocktails, wine, soft drinks and more flowing throughout the weekend. So whether you're a hardcore carnivore or just here for the atmosphere, this is the ultimate foodie event for the Dragon Boat holiday! The Entertainment No BBQ is complete without a proper party! Expect live DJs, great music, dancing and interactive entertainment happening across all three days. Bring your appetite, wear your comfiest shoes and get ready to burn off those BBQ calories on the dance floor! Dress Code For this year's Beijing BBQ Fest, we're embracing all things sports with our Super Fans theme. We want you to turn out in your favorite sports team jersey, shirt, or fan gear to show your support. Be it football, basketball, baseball, your own local Beijing community team, or even a cheerleading outfit, we want to celebrate the uniting energy and enthusiasm of Super Fans worldwide! Beijing BBQ Fest will be taking place at Langyuan Station on Jun 18 for a Soft Opening Vendor Fans Preview Session from 4pm to 9pm and then from Jun 19 to 21, from 11am to 9pm each day. Early bird tickets are RMB 9.9 and can be bought by scanning the QR code below. Tickets at the door are RMB 19.9. Langyuan Station Riverside Cultural Plaza 郎园Station滨河广场53 Banjieta Lu, Chaoyang District朝阳区半截塔路53号 READ: The 20+ Beijing Vendors Bringing Global Flavors to BBQ Fest 2026 Images: the Beijingers Provided:Paid:

1 month ago

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Beijing News: New Airport Subway Connection & City Health Goals

Beijing is a happening city! Don't miss a thing with our weekend roundup of the latest news. First Phase of New Subway Line to Include Capital Airport Transfer On Jun 2, construction began on the first phase of the new R4/Line 20 subway line. This northeastern section of the line will be 20.78km in length, running north to south between Yanjingqiao in Shunyi and the Dongba area of Chaoyang. The section will connect Shunyi, Tongzhou and Chaoyang, and will contain five stations, two of which will serve as transfer stations, with the line allowing transfers to Line 3 and the Capital Airport Express. R4 Line First Phase Stations Yanjingqiao 燕京桥站 Linhe 临河站 Sino-German Industrial Park 中德产业园站 Terminal 3 3号航站楼 (transfer to Capital Airport Express Terminal 3) Guanzhuangluxikou 管庄路西口站 (transfer to Line 3) The first phase of the R4 Line is expected to open towards the end of 2029. Beijing Looks to Improve City's Health Services The Beijing Municipal Health Commission has released its Action Plan for a Higher Level of Medical and Health Services in Beijing (2026)” (北京市更高水平医疗卫生服务行动计划2026年). Among the measures outlined in the document is the plan to increase the number of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in the city. At the end of 2023, there were already more than 5,000 AEDs in key areas around the city. The planned addition of 2,500 AEDs to communities around Beijing will bring the city even closer to its goal of having 50 AEDs per 100,000 residents. Other aims of the action plan include setting up 100 first aid skills training points, training an initial batch of 200 first aid instructors, training 20,000 people in CPR and AED use, and improving hospital emergency services related to assessing stroke patients and treating patients with acute cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. READ: Beijing News: Line 1 Stations Reopen Line 22 to Open This Year Images: Pexels, Unsplash Provided:Paid:

1 month ago

Exploring Poetry x Music's Immersive New Album "All of Those Times"

Here at the Beijinger, we are always excited to share the goings on of local artists, and today we're diving into the latest project by Poetry x Music. Formed in 2018 by poet Anthony Tao and classical guitarist and composer Liane Halton, Poetry x Music is an experimental collaboration that explores ways to blend poetry and music in order to push both mediums beyond their traditional boundaries. Their latest project, All of Those Times, is their third full album, following Here to Stay (2020) and The Last Tribe on Earth (2019). As with their previous work, All of Those Times combines Tao's poetry with Halton's original compositions for a deeply emotional collection. Exploring the full cycle of a relationship, it was shaped in part by the intensity of the Covid years, and the project moves through the full spectrum of human emotion, balancing dramatic tension with quieter moments of contemplation and beauty. All of Those Times was recently performed at the 2025 Macau Literary Festival and has now been released as both an album and a physical book featuring artwork by Norwegian artist Johanna Søvik. We caught up with Tao and Halton to talk about collaboration, experimentation and the stories behind the project. Firstly, why did you decide to release All of Those Times as a physical book as well as an album?Halton: We spoke about this for a long time, as a practical matter, since we know that people no longer use CDs and probably don't have a tape player to play tapes. We even contemplated releasing this as a USB at one point. Eventually, we settled on a book with a QR code to download the music. Having a book certainly serves the medium of poetry the best, and the QR makes it easier for people to access the music. Tao: We also wanted to showcase the artwork of our friend Johanna Søvik, who is a Norwegian mixed media and digital artist living here in Beijing. We've always loved the energy of her paintings and how they also seem to tell a story. She was gracious enough to let us use her work, which we incorporated as well into our album video. [You can see the English version on YouTube here or the Chinese version on Bilibili here.] Were these poems originally written with the intention of being performed by Poetry x Music, or did that idea develop later?Halton: Anthony had some of these poems already sketched out, and some of these were developed and churned along the way, too, along with the music. The situation often starts with Anthony and me brainstorming, and we go through lots of his material, eventually latching onto and gravitating toward one that provides pathways or opportunities for further exploration and development. The opening track, There Was a Time, was actually the final piece we worked on; in its current form and meaning, it was only revealed to us as we put it together. By that, I mean that our full artistic intention was realized only during the process of creation, working with poems and music simultaneously. Tao: The Other Side was special because it was purely collaborative, as in the poem and music sort of arose at the same time, both written in Kangding [in western Sichuan]. Music has a really wonderful way of shaping poems, since it is metered and requires you to think about how words fit into structure; not necessarily a structure that confines or binds, but one that creates these natural feedbacks and loops that play really well with themes of time and memory. Why was it important to release a Chinese version of the book and album as well as the English version?Halton: China lives and breathes through this work, through the stories and where we created it. A translation enables us to share these stories and reach wider audiences. Tao: Liane and I have been working together since 2017, and from the beginning, we've said that we want to continue pushing this poetry and music experiment until it finds its limit. This is our latest attempt to challenge ourselves and maybe push the boundaries for what we can do. All of Those Times explores the full cycle of a relationship alongside broader ideas of human experience and fully lived lives. You reference the idiom 喜怒哀樂 xǐ-nù-āi-lè (happiness, anger, sorrow and joy), for example. Why did you choose those themes as the focus of the project, and what is it about this idiom that particularly spoke to you?Halton: This work was composed during Covid amid such uncertainty, where human relationships and the spectrum of human experience were in a sort of hyperfocus for everyone. I think on some level, we were channelling this, processing this, realizing that to be human is to face this spectrum head-on and to draw attention to and share these common experiences with others through art. Tao: This album takes inspiration from a lot of lived experience, and its final form is a distillation of the full gamut of emotional reactions to those experiences. I'm so impressed with the music in this regard, the sheer range of it, reflecting desperation and fury and longing, but also able to settle into moments of contemplation, understanding, and forgiveness. How did your collaboration shape the final work?Tao: Liane is simply the best. In addition to being a guitarist nonpareil, she is a sublime composer, which will be evident to all listeners — but listen closely to catch the subtleties, the inexpressible conveyed through notes and turns of phrase. We were extremely fortunate, in this album, to also have Ryan Etzcorn, Shawn Moore, and Stanley Moore, who lent us their brilliance on the drums, violin, and cello. Halton: Anthony is a brilliant, creative partner. He is a wordsmith who processes words much like how I process notes — the answer is there, the poem is already written, the piece is set; our work is to problem-solve together until we find it. When we find the answer to the puzzle, we keep the outcome and move on to the next word/musical problem. Sometimes the answer is there, sometimes it takes weeks, months, years — we both have the patience and willingness to access this flow and work together. You performed the album at the 2025 Macau Literary Festival. What was that experience like?Halton: It felt incredible to share our work in that setting — it was an old, beautiful theater in Macau called the Dom Pedro V Theatre. We had the chance to share our work in this stunning venue, with a professional setup and two very experienced, exceptional sound engineers, Pedro and Luis. We shared the stage with the Lisbon Poetry Orchestra, fellow musicians and poets who had found each other, so it was also nice to feel a sense of community in what we were doing. Tao: That theater was one of the first Western-style theaters in East Asia when it was built in 1860. Just a marvel of a venue. It was interesting, because we're used to playing in bars and small livehouses, where there's a lot of background noise. In Macau, there was absolute silence; I could hear myself breathing. That was scary, but also ideal for poetry and music. And kudos to Mike Fox, who joined us on bass, since we didn't have Shawn and Stanley with us. Do you have a personal favorite poem or piece in the collection?Tao: Honesty, I'm really proud of how different the six tracks are, which lets us approach each one with the unique attention it deserves. Halton: I find each piece so special and moving in some way or another. A whole story with its own rich imagery exists in every single piece for me. For people discovering Poetry x Music for the first time, what do you hope they take away from the experience?Halton: I hope that new listeners can explore the narratives we weave through the poetry and music simultaneously. Typically, in the poetry-and-music format, music plays a supporting role. However, Poetry x Music challenges this, and the two hold equal weight. I hope we can invite all listeners to hear the stories with the music enhancing them in detail, like watching a movie. Tao: Hopefully they'll be interested in more of what we do — poetryxmusic.com for past albums, videos, etc. I want to mention Nina Dillenz, who we've worked with since the beginning — she just released an amazing music video of our track Summer 2020. [You can see the English version on YouTube here and the Chinese version on Bilibili here.] The collaborative nature of the Beijing creative community means there are endless possibilities in the future. Lastly, where can people purchase the book or album if they'd like to support the project? Tao: The easiest place to support us would be at poetryxmusic.bandcamp.com. For those in China, I'd be happy to send physical copies of the book — just get in touch via WeChat (anthonytao13) or email (anthonytao13@gmail.com). READ: Three Things for the Week Ahead in Beijing (May 25-31) Images: courtesy of Poetry x Music Provided:Paid:

1 month ago

Three Things for the Week Ahead in Beijing (May 25-31)

There's Beijing Cocktail Week, your last chance to catch Love Hurts Six Original One-Act Plays and Wildkats celebrates their third anniversary this week in Beijing. Drink – Beijing Cocktail Week Beijing Cocktail Week (BJCW) 2026 kicked off last Friday and will run until May 28. Rather than a traditional drinks festival, BJCW is a week of guest shifts, pairing dinners, pop-ups and late-night collaborations designed for cocktail lovers and industry insiders alike. BJCW will feature guest appearances from 25 internationally acclaimed bars at venues across Beijing. At WF Central, there will be a series of pop-ups at various venues by bars from across China. There will also be cocktail pairing dinners and a I'm From China late-night series at TWM Bistro, where bartenders from around the country will create hometown-inspired cocktails paired with regional late-night dishes. Beijing Cocktail Week is taking place at a variety of venues across the capital from now until May 28. For information about the individual events, you can click here. Watch – Love Hurts Six Original One-Act Plays This week, you've got two more chances to catch Love Hurts, a collection of six original one-act plays written by Steven McKinney, aka Stevie Mac. Taking place on Friday (May 29) and Saturday (May 30) at JinShang Yuan's Starlight Lounge, Love Hurts explores the many emotional shades of love through a mix of comedy, drama, suspense and more. You can read more about Love Hurts in an interview we conducted with McKinney back in March here. (Please note the dates for the play showings have since been updated; you can see the new details below.) Love Hurts will be taking place at JinShang Yuan's Starlight Lounge on Fri, May 29 and Sat, May 30 at 8pm. Tickets are RMB 100 and can be bought by scanning the QR code in the poster above. Jinshang Yuan Starlight LoungeB1/F, Jinshang Yuan, 20, Xinyuan Lixi, Xindong Lu, Chaoyang District朝阳区新东路新源里西20号金尚源B1 Celebrate – House on the Roof, Wildkats 3rd Anniversary Edition Next Saturday, May 30, Wildkats will be celebrating its three-year anniversary with a special edition of House on the Roof at Fusion. Three years in the capital have seen Wildkats' events like Techno Train, Late Knights and, of course, their signature series House on the Roof become an integral part of Beijing's music scene. The May 30 anniversary edition will kick off at 2pm, running into sunset and late-night hours, and they're flying in a special DJ to headline: ACROBAT. Based in Koh Phangan, Thailand, ACROBAT is the resident DJ at Eden Garden, LightHouse and Guy's Bar. For the event, he'll be bringing his signature blend of tribal, progressive and tech sounds, weaving deep grooves, rolling basslines and hypnotic percussion. They'll be releasing more details on the full lineup soon, so be sure to keep a lookout for that by following their official WeChat WildKats. House on the Roof, Wildkats 3rd Anniversary will be taking place at Fusion on May 30, from 2pm until late. Early bird tickets are RMB 98, presale tickets are RMB 118 and tickets at the door are RMB 158. You can purchase tickets by scanning the QR code in the poster above. Fusion4/F, THE BOX, 12 Chaoyangmenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District朝阳区朝阳门外大街12号THE BOX朝外年轻力中心F4 READ: To Try List: New Riverside Spot, Thai Fest Returns, MO Terrace Party More Images: Unsplash, courtesy of the venues Provided:Paid:

1 month ago

Beijing News: Line 1 Stations Reopen & Line 22 to Open This Year

Beijing is a happening city! Don't miss a thing with our weekend roundup of the latest news. Line 1 Subway Stations Reopen Recently, a handful of stations on the western end of Line 1 reopened after extended closures. Pingguoyuan (苹果园站) reopened after a six-year closure, and Gucheng (古城站) and Babaoshan (八宝山站) stations reopened after both having been closed for three months. Pingguoyuan station now allows passengers to transfer between Line 1, Line 6 and the S1 line as part of the Pingguoyuan Transport Hub. There are also improved options for express, regular bus and park and ride services. Pingguoyuan station has received a number of upgrades, including a doubling of the number of entrance/exit gates, direct elevator access between station levels, additional escalators at station entrances, mother–baby changing rooms and accessible bathrooms. Bajiao Amusement Park (八角游乐园站) remains closed due to ongoing construction work, and trains will continue to pass through the station without stopping. Bajiao Amusement Park is scheduled to reopen in June 2027. As of May 19, temporary bus route adjustments and other supporting measures that were in effect during the closures of the aforementioned stations have been cancelled. Line 22 to Open Later This Year It was recently announced that Line 22, also known as the Pinggu line, will open in part later this year. Once complete, the line will run from Dongdaqiao station (东大桥站) to Pinggu station (平谷站). The larger Hongmiao–Pinggu section will open later this year, and the shorter section between Dondaqiao and Hongmiao station (红庙站), which will include Jintaixizhao station (金台夕照站), is scheduled to open in 2029. The line will connect Chaoyang District, Tongzhou District, Sanhe City in Hebei province, and Pinggu District. In doing so, it will become Beijing’s first cross-province regional express line. The total length of the completed line will be about 81.8km, with about 50.2km of its length in Beijing and about 31.6km of its length in Hebei province. The line will have 22 stations, 12 of which will be transfer stations. Line 22 will be of great benefit to residents in Pinggu and in Sanhe’s western Yanjiao Town, with one of the major promises of the line being that it will cut the travel time between Yanjiao and Tongzhou to as low as nine minutes. It is estimated that travel between Yanjiao and Hongmiao station in Beijing will take around 28 minutes, and that the travel time from Pinggu station to Hongmiao station will be around 53 minutes. READ: Beijing News: Direct Flights to Lisbon Bikes on Subway Images: Unsplash, Pexels, Beijing Fabu Provided:Paid:

2 months ago

To Try List: New Riverside Spot, Thai Fest Returns, MO Terrace Party & More

Our To Try List covers new restaurants, dining deals, drinks discounts, food and drink fests, guest shifts, pop-ups and more food and drink happenings in Beijing. Liangma River spot Rosy Bay opens, Thai Fest returns, Mandarin Oriental throws a terrace party, there's new Cantonese in Sanyuanqiao and more on our To Try List this week. Rosy Bay Opens on the Liangma River Rosy Bay has recently opened up along the Liangma River, just across from Solana. Boasting a beautiful terrace and rooftop with riverfront views, it's a perfect summertime spot to enjoy some food and drinks. Rosy Bay specializes in New Zealand cuisine and some must-try dishes on the menu are New Zealand Venison Pizza (RMB 118), Manuka Honey Roast Chicken (RMB 68) and Volcanic Stone Grilled Beef Burger (RMB 88). Drinkswise, they've got a range of coffee, craft beers, wines and, come evening, specialty cocktails. At the moment, they're still in soft opening and you can check out the full opening hours below. Rosy Bay42 Liangmaqiao Lu, Maizidian Jiedao, Chaoyang District朝阳区麦子店街道亮马桥路42号Hours: 11am-midnight (dining hours: 11am-10pm; cocktail hours: 5pm-midnight)Phone: 155 0126 2355 Thai Festival Returns to Chaoyang Park Next weekend, from May 30 to 31, the Thai Festival will be returning to Chaoyang Park, bringing a weekend celebration of Thai culture to the capital. Hosted by the Royal Thai Embassy in Beijing, highlights of the festival will include a range of authentic Thai food and drinks, cultural performances and immersive experiences showcasing the sights, sounds and flavors of Thailand right in the heart of Beijing. You can check out the full schedule of events here. The Thai Festival will be taking place at Fusion Square in Chaoyang Park from 10.30am to 6pm on May 30 to 31. Enry to the festival is completely free. Fusion Square, Chaoyang Park 融合广场朝阳公园Inside Chaoyang Park, 1 Chaoyang Gongyuan Nan Lu, Chaoyang District朝阳区朝阳公园南路1号朝阳公园内 Above the Skyline Terrace Party at Mandarin Oriental Wangfujing, Beijing On Friday, May 29, Mandarin Oriental Wangfujing will be throwing an Above the Skyline party on their stunning terrace overlooking the Forbidden City. Guests can enjoy a curated East-meets-West fusion buffet menu, which includes a Beijing Duck station, an Iberian ham carving table and an oyster and caviar ice bar. They will also have guest mixologists from bars such as Pony Up and Tiao who will join forces with the MO Bar team to craft a range of exclusive cocktails for the event. Tickets for the event include the buffet and two guest-mixologist specialty cocktails, early bird tickets are sold out but standard tickets are RMB 588/per person. Along with the food and drink, they'll also have entertainment throughout the evening with a fashion show, contemporary dance performance and live DJ sets to keep the energy high. The Above the Skyline Terrace Party will be taking place at Mandarin Oriental Wangfujing on Fri, May 29, from 6.30pm until late. Standard tickets are RMB 588/per person. 5/F Mandarin Oriental Wangfujing, Beijing 北京王府井文华东方酒店5层269 Wangfujing Dajie, Dongcheng District东城区王府井大街269号 Cantonese Restaurant Fuaxi Opens New Branch Near Sanyuanqiao Cantonese Restaurant Fuaxi has recently opened up a new branch just up the road from Sanyuanli Market near Sanyuanqiao. Its third branch in Beijing, Fuaxi specializes in traditional Cantonese cuisine, with a special focus on Cantonese roast meat. Some signature offerings are an array of roast goose dishes, dim sum, such as har gow and siu mai, clay pot dishes, congee and more. On the restaurant space itself, it channels the atmosphere of a classic Hong Kong-style dai pai dong, with warm lighting, vintage wooden furniture, retro tiles and neon signs. An open roast meat display at the entrance filled with hanging roast goose, char siu and duck, plus an open kitchen where you can see the chefs at work, adds a marketplace type vibe to the space. Fuaxi 福阿喜 (Sanyuanqiao branch)G/F China Travel Trade Building, 1 Dong Sanhuan Bei Lu, Zuojiazhuang Jiedao, Chaoyang District朝阳区左家庄街道东三环北路一号中国旅贸大厦底商Hours: 10.30am-10pmPhone: 178 0131 8395 The Caribbean Experience Returns to Beijing with the 2026 Caribbean Ball On Saturday, May 30, the Caribbean Experience 2026 Caribbean Ball will be taking place at the China World Summit Wing. Hosted annually by the Caribbean Embassies in Beijing, the Caribbean Experience is all about bringing the vibrant spirit of the Caribbean to China. The black tie ball will include an exclusive gala dinner featuring a curated fusion menu that blends Chinese and Caribbean cuisines, alongside live entertainment such as reggae music, traditional dance and more. The Caribbean Experience 2026 Caribbean Ball will be taking place at the China World Summit Wing on Sat, May 30, from 6pm. Tickets are RMB 1,200 per person or RMB 11,000 for a table of ten. You can purchase tickets and read more details via this link. China World Summit Wing, Beijing 北京国贸大酒店1 Jianguomen Waidajie, Chaoyang District朝阳区建国门外大街1号 St Regis Beijing Launches Garden Grill Beer Experience Earlier this month, the St Regis launched a brand new Garden Grill Beer experience, bringing alfresco BBQ evenings to the hotel’s lush garden space. Running every Wednesday to Friday from 6pm to 9.30pm, it features three different BBQ sets: Chinese Style BBQ Platter (RMB 328), Western Style BBQ Platter (RMB 358) and Seafood BBQ Platter (RMB 388). Each set comes with your choice of three side dishes, dipping sauces and dressings, a salad and dessert. Alternatively, they also have a customizable à la carte grill menu available and all of the BBQ options come paired with a selection of premium beers and signature beverages. The St Regis Garden Grill Beer experience is available Wed to Fri from 6pm to 9.30pm until Jun 30. The BBQ sets start from RMB 328 (or RMB 298 through their WeChat mini program) and you can book by scanning the QR code in the poster above. St Regis Beijing 北京瑞吉酒店21 Jianguomen Waidajie, Chaoyang District朝阳区建国门外大街21号 Italian Brunch Special at ARMANI/CAFFÈ's Terrace On Sunday, May 31 ARMANI/CAFFÈ will be putting on a special Italian brunch on their terrace located in the heart of the CBD. The brunch is RMB 388/per person and includes one selected cocktail, or you can upgrade to free flow selected drinks for RMB 288 or free flow Champagne for RMB 788. As well as the food and drinks, there will also be live DJ sets. The Italian Brunch Special will be taking place at ARMANI/CAFFÈ on Sun, May 31 from 11.30am to 3pm. The standard brunch, including one selected cocktail, is RMB 388. You can reserve your spot now by scanning the QR code in the poster above. ARMANI/CAFFÈSL3009, 3/F China World Mall, 1 Jianguomen Wai Dajie, Chaoyang District朝阳区建国门外大街1号国贸商城南区三层SL3009 READ: BBQ Fest Returns Jun 19-21, Save the Date! Images: the Beijingers, Dianping, courtesy of the venues Provided:Paid:

2 months ago

Juicy Burger Cup 2026: Beijing's Top 20 Burgers

Following our recent announcements that Slowboat was voted the 2026 Juicy Burger Cup Champion, and Side Street was picked as champion by our Expert Panel, we're now taking a deep dive into our 2026 Top 20 Burgers. As we had both the people's vote and expert vote this year, we've listed the burgers via the public voting top 20 with the corresponding expert ranking in brackets. If you haven't been to all 20 spots, it's time to get a move on and fill in those gaps in your burger-eating resume! Please note: Many of these establishments have multiple locations; for brevity's sake, we've listed one for each. You can check Dianping for more locations. 20 Rich Burger (Expert Panel 19) Rich Burger has long been winning over the hearts and stomachs of Shunyi residents, but this year its burgers managed to impress further afield, seeing it jump from 41 in last year's Cup to 20 this time around. All of Rich Burger's patties are handmade with imported Angus beef and for those who prefer a traditional burger, you can't go wrong with the Cheeseburger (RMB 55), their most popular item on Dianping. Fans of Hawaiian burgers also won't want to miss the Pineapple Teriyaki Cheeseburger (RMB 58) which sees beef topped with homemade teriyaki sauce, tomatoes, lettuce, and cheddar. Rich Burger 发财汉堡1/F Euro Plaza, 99 Yuxiang Lu, Shunyi District顺义区欧陆广场一层西侧Hours: 10am-10pmPhone: 135 1176 0790 19 Take A Bite (Expert Panel 20) Now with two branches in the capital, Take A Bite is another spot that climbed the ranks this year, from 33 in 2025 to 19 in the 2026 Cup. Here at the Beijinger, we've long been fans of Take A Bite and a personal recommendation from us is the Burning in Hell (RMB 52), a spicy little number that layers homemade suicide chili sauce, spicy mayo and jalapenos onto one of their handcrafted patties. Take A Bite TAB汉堡 (798 branch)9-1 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District朝阳区酒仙桥路9号1号平房Hours: 11am-2amPhone: 176 0108 3986; 131 2033 3966 18 Wolfgang's Steakhouse (Expert Panel 5) Wolfgang's Steakhouse is the restaurant with the biggest discrepancy between the public vote and Expert Panel vote in the top 20, coming 18 and 5, respectively. As you'd expect from any steakhouse worth its salt, the star of the show with their burgers is the meat. At this year's fest, the Signature 50 Day Dry-Aged Sirloin Burger (RMB 198), which features a freshly ground, premium dry-aged steak patty that's seared until it develops a crispy crust, was super popular. Wolfgang's Steakhouse 沃夫冈牛排馆 (Sanlitun branch)1/F, Bafang, southwest side of Yingke Center, A2 Gongti Bei Lu, Chaoyang District朝阳区工体北路甲2号盈科中心西南侧捌坊一层Hours: 11.30am-10pmPhone: 010 6592 4946; 156 0065 7968 17 Deli NYC (Expert Panel 17) Although better known for their US-style sandwiches, Deli NYC's burgers also impressed in this year's Cup. For traditionalists, you can't go wrong with the Beef Cheeseburger (RMB 56), which simply pairs a handcrafted beef patty with melted cheese, lettuce and tomato all nestled in a soft bun. At the Juicy Burger Fest, their exclusive NYC Cheese Fries Burger, which combined chili and melty cheese atop a Wagyu patty, was a big hit. Deli NYC (T+ MALL branch)B1-12, B1 T+ MALL, 1 Sanlitun Nanlu, Chaoyang District朝阳区南三里屯路1号T+ MALLB1-12Hours: Daily, 10am-9.30pmPhone: 186 1832 9091 16 Huddler Diner and Bar (Expert Panel 10) Earlier this year, Huddler Diner and Bar opened up a fully-fledged restaurant in Gaobeidian, where they serve up their banging burgers along with an array of gin-based cocktails courtesy of partner bar Seize the Gin. Huddler had the biggest rise in rankings when compared to last year, jumping from 57 to 16 in this year's Cup. The burger to try has to be the Huddler Burger (RMB 68), which features two smash patties, a secret sauce made with bacon and dried plum, pickles and cheese. Huddler Diner and BarRm 106, Bldg 11, East Zone, Chuang 1958, 1A Dongdiancun, Chaoyang District朝阳区东店村甲1号创1958东区11幢106室Hours: 10am-midnightPhone: 133 7017 4943 15 WhyNot (Expert Panel 11) One of our 2024 Best New Burger runners-up, it's great to see WhyNot make it into the top 20, rising up from 24 last year to 15. Earlier this year, they opened up a second branch near Beixinqiao, where they continue to serve up their delectable burger creations. You can't go wrong with the Meet Lover (RMB 68), which layers two Angus beef smash patties with caramelized onions and cheese. For the more adventurous, there's the Hutong Walker, a fried chicken burger paired with erbajiang (二八酱 èrbā jiàng) sauce, homemade chili oil, mayonnaise, lettuce and a slice of caramelized pineapple. WhyNot 外岛精酿餐吧 (Beixinqiao branch)Bldg D, Kelin Mansion, Beixinqiao, Dongcheng District东城区北新桥科林大厦院内D座Hours: 10am-1amPhone: 188 1156 6618 14 Slider Nation 小堡邦 (Expert Panel 8) Last year saw Slider Nation open up a fully fledged restaurant near WAB and since opening, they've gradually been expanding their succulent slider offerings. One such new addition was the Sausage Egg n' Cheese Sliders (RMB 28/each, minimum order of three), which feature a homemade Jimmy Dean-style breakfast sausage patty paired with egg, cheese and spicy OG sauce. Of course, you can also never go wrong with their signature OG Sliders (RMB 99/for three), which layer Wagyu beef patties smashed with onions with cheese and their signature sauce, sandwiched inside Hawaiian-style steamed buns. Slider Nation小堡邦 (WAB branch)2-9, 1/F, 8 Laiguangying Donglu, Chaoyang District朝阳区来广营东路8号一层2-9号 Hours: 11am-9pmPhone: 156 1123 5169 13 Plan B (Expert Panel 18) Longtime Shuangjing resident Plan B is another spot that jumped in the ranking compared to last year, climbing from 45 to 13. If you're looking for something classic, then the Plan B Burger (RMB 80) will hit the spot with its two smashed beef patties layered with American cheese, house-made pickles, shredded lettuce and burger sauce in a buttered, toasted sesame seed bun. Plan B 2-012, 22 International Art Plaza, Pingguo Community, 32 Baiziwan Lu, Chaoyang District (east of Today Art Museum and behind 7/11) 朝阳区百子湾路32号苹果社区22院街艺术区2-012今日美术馆东侧 Hours: 11.30am-11.30pmPhone: 010 5826 4575 12 Goose Island Taproom 鹅岛精酿啤酒餐厅 (Expert Panel 16) Since opening in Beijing, Goose Island Taproom has earned a solid fan base here in Beijing. You can’t go wrong with their Brewmaster Beer Cheese Burger (RMB 88), which features a 200g beef patty loaded with Goose Island 312 beer cheese, smoked tomato relish, bacon jam and to finish it all off a smear of Goose Island 312 beer mustard for a tangy kick. Goose Island Taproom (Solana branch)BS-06-1F-2F, Solana Blue Harbor 6 Chaoyang Gongyuan Lu, Chaoyang District朝阳区朝阳公园路6号蓝色港湾BS-06-1F-2FHours: Sun-Thu, 10.30am-midnight; Fri-Sat, 10.30am-2amPhone: 010 5905 6802 11 Circle Burger 圆场 (Expert Panel 14) Circle Burger, the specific burger offshoot from Circle Urban, has been consistently ranking in Beijing's top burgers over the past few years. One of their most popular burgers is the Black Pineapple Burger (RMB 78), which sees roast pineapple, cheddar, jalapeños and mustard sauce layered on an Angus beef patty inside a black Guangzhou-style pineapple bun. Circle Burger 圆场汉堡 (CBD branch)B1/F, Zhengda Center, 20 Jinhe East, Chaoyang District朝阳区金和东路20号正大中心B1Hours: 10am-8pmPhone: 185 1353 5304 10 Home Plate BBQ 本垒美式烤肉 (Expert Panel 12) A powerhouse of authentic American BBQ flavors, Home Plate BBQ brings smoky, meaty excellence to Beijing's burger scene. They recently added two brand new burgers to their menu, the first is the Jalapeño Popper Burger, which sees a smoked brisket patty layered with melted American cheese, house-smoked jalapeño popper cream cheese, crispy smoked bacon, crispy fried pickled jalapeños, classic pickles and their secret Home Plate burger sauce. The other is the Texas Barketta Burger, which features a slice of Texas barketta, Little Rock creamy slaw and Carolina gold mustard. Home Plate BBQ (Sanlitun branch)106, 1/F, Bldg 10, Courtyard 4, Gongti North Road, Chaoyang District朝阳区工体北路4号10号楼一层106号Hours: 11am-11pmPhone: 400 096 7670 9 Burge's Bistro And Bar 小伯格酒馆 (Expert Panel 4) Burge's burgers continue to impress fans across the capital, not only for their great quality but also for their price! A top pick is their signature Burge's Beef Burger (RMB 49), a beef patty paired with buffalo cheese, secret recipe onions, and Italian black vinegar mayonnaise, all sandwiched inside a brioche bun. Burge's Bistro Bar (Sanlitun branch)6 Sanlitun South Road, Chaoyang District朝阳区三里屯南路6号Hours: Mon-Fri 5pm-3am; Sat-Sun, noon-3amPhone: 010 6506 8288, 130 2113 3821 8 Q Mex Bar And Grill 库迈墨西哥餐吧 (Expert Panel 9) Winner of the Juicy Burger Cup in 2017 and 2023, Q MEX continues to pursue crafting great burgers. While better-known for tacos and other Mexican dishes, their burger program, refined by chef Marcus Medina's NYC/LA experience, delivers consistent quality that rivals dedicated burger joints. Their fest exclusive Mexican Outlaw Burger, featuring a house-made carnitas patty with homemade chipotle BBQ sauce, cheese and coleslaw, proved to be a popular choice at the festival. Q MEX (Sanlitun branch)H01, 1/F, Bldg 80, Courtyard No. 4, Gongrentiyuchang Beilu, Chaoyang District朝阳区工人体育场北路4号院80号楼1层H01Hours: Thu-Sun, 11am-midnight; Fri-Sat 11am-1amPhone: 010 6585 3828 7 Great Leap Brewing 大跃啤酒 (Expert Panel 13) A Beijing institution known for its classic American-style burgers and craft beers. Their Double Cheeseburger (RMB 78) remains a standout, with two smashed Australian Angus beef patties, melted cheddar cheese, pickles, fancy sauce and mayo all sandwiched inside a soft, sesame bun. It also comes served with a generous portion of beautifully crispy fries. Great Leap Brewing Gongti branch1/F, Ziming Dasha, 12A Xinzhong Jie, Dongcheng District东城区新中街乙12号紫铭大厦Hours: Sun-Thu, 11am-2am; Fri-Sat 11am-3amPhone: 010 6417 0018 6 Wild Kite Brewing 野风筝 (Expert Panel 3) Wild Kite continues to impress with its focus on quality ingredients and thoughtful flavor combinations. At the 2026 Juicy Burger Fest, they launched the new Sizzling Chili Oil Beef Burger with Fern Root Cake (RMB 78), which is now available across all their branches. It pairs an Australian beef patty with fern cake (a specialty from the Yunnan–Guizhou–Sichuan region), cumin chili oil with scallions, mayonnaise and romaine lettuce. Other fan favorite burgers include the Classic Wagyu Burger (RMB 68), an Australian Wagyu beef patty topped with onion, lime cucumber sauce and cheese. Wild Kite Brewing (Andingmen branch)1921 Cultural Industry Park, 3 Huayuan Hutong, Dongcheng District东城区花园胡同三号城市空间1921文化产业园内Hours: Sun-Thu 11am-1am; Fri-Sat, 11am-2amPhone: 010 6402 2988 5 Jing-A Brewing Co 京A精酿啤酒 (Expert Panel 6) With multiple locations across Beijing, it's safe to say that Jing-A has been doing pretty well over the past few years, and great burgers paired with their refreshing brews are definitely one of the reasons why. For those into fusion burgers, the Yunnan-Guizhou Sour Soup Flavor Wagyu Burger (RMB 88) is not to be missed, it pairs a 200g thick-cut Australian Angus Wagyu beef patty with a homemade sour soup mayonnaise, beer-battered fish mint root, fresh mint and buffalo mozzarella. If you're into more classic burgers, then you can't go wrong with their Stout Bacon Cheeseburger (RMB 88), which sees an Australian beef patty layered with bacon, mayo, red onion, cheese and special Black Velvet stout syrup. Jing-A (CBD branch)Beijing Kerry Center, North Tower 1 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang District朝阳区朝阳区光华路1号Hours: Sun-Thu, 11am-1am; Fri-Sat, 11am-2amPhone: 132 6993 9015 4 Wagyu Kaiju 和牛怪物汉堡 (Expert Panel 7) Winners of last year's Best New Burger, WAGYU KAIJU jumped up the ranks this year to snag a spot in the top 4. They deliver a premium burger experience that highlights the exceptional quality of Australian Wagyu beef, all for a low cost. A particular favorite of ours is The Lidless Eye Wagyu Burger (RMB 48), which is inspired by Sauron, the Lidless Eye from The Lord of the Rings, and sees an Australian M5+ Wagyu beef patty topped with a fried egg, bourbon onion sauce and secret teriyaki sauce. WAGYU KAIJU (Shuangjing branch)At the intersection of Tianli Jie and Huili Lu, Chaoyang District朝阳区天力街和惠力路交叉口Hours: 10am-10pmPhone: 133 7017 5304 3 Beersmith Gastropub 鲜啤吧 (Expert Panel 15) Located right under Hotel Jen in the CBD, Beersmith Gastropub has become a staple of the craft brew and burger community in Beijing. They've consistently impressed with perfectly cooked patties and creative toppings that reinvent the burger experience. At the 2026 fest, they debuted three new burgers: the Smoked Shooter, which pairs caramelized thick-cut bacon with a Wagyu beef patty, lettuce, tomato, pickles and BBQ sauce; the Prickly Pear which combines foie gras, a Wagyu beef patty, cinnamon pear, tartar sauce, balsamic vinegar, pecans and cheddar cheese; and the Gritty Hen featuring buffalo fried chicken, brown butter mayo and pickled onions. According to a post on their RedNote, they are planning on adding these burgers to their menu soon. Beersmith Gastropub1/F, Hotel Jen Beijing, 1 Jianguomenwai Avenue, Chaoyang District朝阳区建国门外大街1号新国贸饭店1层Hours: Sun-Thu, 11am-2am; Fri-Sat 11am-3amPhone: 010 8647 1098 2 Side Street 街旁 (Expert Panel 1) Side Street came in second in the people's vote for this year's Juicy Burger Cup, but were crowned as the champions by our Expert Panel. Over the years, they've become one of the city's burger heavyweights, with numerous creative offerings, including not only meaty options but three distinct meat-free options. At the 2026 Juicy Burger Fest, they debuted the Garlic Rush, which sees a 150g Angus beef patty layered with white cheddar, their signature slow-cooked garlic confit, fresh lettuce, tomato and chili rings, then finished with a smear of garlic mayo to tie everything together. They've now added this burger to the menu at both of their branches, so if you didn't get to try it at the festival, now's your chance! Side Street (Jianguomen branch)Bldg N28 2/101-102 17 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District (behind Nola)朝阳区建国门外大街17号楼2/101-102Nola后面Hours: 11am-1amPhone: 135 2195 8643 1 Slowboat 悠航 (Expert Panel 2) After a four-year hiatus, Slowboat snatched back victory this year, becoming Juicy Burger Cup Champions for the seventh time. Their signature burgers, like the Fryburger (RMB 69) and Lao Thai Thai (RMB 75), which features peanut butter and pineapple, continue to impress Beijing's burger-loving community. For the 2026 Juicy Burger Fest, they created the Lao BeiBei Grassland Lamb Burger, which featured a patty made from free-range lamb from Inner Mongolia, paired with pickled radish, fresh scallions, sweet marinated garlic and a rich majiang aioli, all sandwiched in a buttered brioche bun. In a recent WeChat post, they've promised that this burger will soon be available in store, so be sure to keep an eye out for that! Slowboat (Sanlitun branch)6 Nansanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District朝阳区南三里屯路6号Hours: Sun-Thu 11am-midnight, Fri-Sat 11am-2amPhone: 010 6592 5388, 178 1215 6182 READ: Slowboat Reclaims the Throne in 2026 Juicy Burger Cup Images: the Beijingers, courtesy of the venues Provided:Paid:

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BBQ Fest Returns Jun 19-21, Save the Date!

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