2008 Upcoming Events and Festivals in Beijing
What's happening in Beijing - Things to do in Beijing
When: 1pm (Beijing Time), March 15-16, 2008
Where: Wukesong Sports Center Baseball Field
Teams: San Diego Padres vs Los Angeles Dodger
Ticket Prices(RMB): 50, 88, 280, 480, 880, 1280
Phone: 010-6551-6590
China Series tickets will start at RMB 50 per pair, there will be available for RMB 88, 280, 480, 880, and RMB
1,280 for VIP seating. Regardless of price, spectators can expect a great view of all the action at the 12,000-seat
Wukesong Olympic Baseball Field, when the Los Angeles Dodgers face the San Diego Padres on March 15 and
16. (This event has been passed)
When: Mar 31, 2008
Torch relay website: http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/
The Olympic torch is lit in Olympia, Greece (as per tradition) on 25 March and then arrives in Beijing on the 31st.
From here, it embarks on a six-continent voyage before returning to Beijing to ignite the 2008 Olympic Games.
The official Olympic Torch Relay has been confirmed and the route passes through the following cities: Almaty,
Istanbul, St Petersburg, London, Paris, San Francisco, Buenos Aires, Dar es Salaam, Muscat, Islamabad,
Mumbai, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Canberra, Nagano, Seoul, Pyongyang and Ho Chi Minh City - before
traversing across the Chinese provinces.
The high-point of the relay is the carrying of the flame to the top of Mount Everest during May - the highest the
flame has ever been (and ever will be) taken. There is much symbolism surrounding this climatic moment, as
China specified in their original Olympic bid. The scaling of Everest represents how Beijing hopes to take the
Olympic Games to a brand-new, previously unattained level.
When: Apr 13, 2008
Where: Workers' Stadium
Opening Hours: 7.30pm
Celine Dion website: http://www.celinedion.com/
Canadian diva Celine Dion brings her Taking Chances
world tour, in support of her new album of the same name,
to the Workers' Stadium in Beijing.
Update(April 1): Celine Dion Beijing Concert has been cancelled.
On April 1, Hollywood Reporter, quoting Emma Entertainment (the organizer of Celine Dion Taking Chances
Beijing Show), reported the concert will be postponed due to concern that Beijing's April sandstorms could affect
Celine Dion’s recovery from a recent throat infection.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/features/people/e3i9c99d90cc70466f531c723db8c6f6844
Reuters, on the same day, quoting Beijing Evening News on a statement from the spokesman for Celion Dion,
reported the organizer failed to obtain a permit despite selling thousands of tickets.
http://www.reuters.com/article/peopleNews/idUSPEK8703520080402
Update (April 2): Beijing Show was cancelled due To Difficulties Securing Venue as reported on Celine Dion
Website. Contrary to earlier reports, Celine Dion is not cancelling her Beijing concert because of sandstorms and
She is looking forward to a future concert in Beijing.
When: July 8 - Aug 12, 2008
Where: 1 Wusi Dajie, National Art Museum of China (中国美术馆),
Dongcheng District, Beijing
Phone: 010-6401-7076, 010-6401-2252
Admission Fee: RMB 20
Website: www.namoc.org
An international art exhibit, the largest in China for 50 years, opened on July 8 to mark the August Olympiad.
Themed "Colors and Olympics," the third Beijing International Art Biennial features 747 sculptures and paintings
by 701 artists from 81 countries.
When: Aug 8-24, 2008
Where: Beijing, Hong Kong, Qingdao, Shanghai, Shenyang, Tianjin and Qinhuangdao
Beijing 2008 Olympic Games websites: http://en.beijing2008.cn/
Beijing is the host of the 2008 Olympic Games. Millions around the world are expected
to tune in to watch their countries fight for those all-important gold medals in over 300
events.
Over 30 venues have been allocated to accommodate the intense competition schedule, with the Olympic Green
as the focal point. This complex is located in the north-eastern district of Chaoyang, and houses the grand
purpose-built National Stadium, a huge venue also known as the Bird's Nest thanks to its criss-cross structure
and ring-like shape. It has a capacity of 80,000 and hosts both the opening and closing ceremonies, athletic
events and football finals.
Outside of the Olympic Green, there are several other Olympic venues across Beijing and in six other Chinese
cities. Hong Kong hosts the equestrian events, sailing takes place in Qingdao and there are football preliminary
rounds in Shanghai, Shenyang, Tianjin and Qinhuangdao.
Over the course of the event, more than 10,000 athletes flock to China to compete across 28 summer sports,
from athletics to wrestling. Here are XXIX Olympic Games Schedule, 2008 Summer Olympic Games Preview,
2008 Beijing Olympics Guide Book including Events Schedule, Restaurants, Attractions, Hotels and Transport
and Venue Maps.
When: August 19 - September 2, 2008
Where: 1 Wusi Dajie, National Art Museum of China, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Phone: 010-6401-7076, 010-6401-2252
Opening Hours: 9am-5pm daily
Admission Fee: RMB 20
Website: www.namoc.org
The highest profile art event during the Beijing Olympics will be Cai Guo-Qiang's "I Want to Believe" retrospective,
at the National Art Museum of China. Cai Guo-Qiang is an internationally acclaimed Chinese artist and curator.
His most conspicuously achievement, a set of 14 of his gunpowder drawings sold at Christie’s in Hong Kong in
2007 for $9.5 million, setting an auction record for contemporary Chinese art. His work breaks down into three
very different categories — installation art, gunpowder land art pieces and enormous gunpowder drawings. The
exhibition, which attracted record crowds while at the New York Guggenheim spring 2008, will travel to the
Guggenheim Bilbao in Spring 2009. Cai, in collaboration with Fireworks by Grucci, is also designing a pyrotechnic
display for the opening and closing ceremonies of Beijing Olympics.
When: September 6-17, 2008
Where: Beijing
Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games Website: http://en.beijing2008.cn/paralympic/
The 2008 proceedings kick-off with a spectacular ceremony on 6 September,
followed by an intense 12-day competition schedule. The 400-plus events take
place in venues across Beijing and also in two other Chinese cities. Hong Kong
hosts the equestrian events, while sailing takes place in Qingdao.
When: September 20-28, 2008
Where: Beijing International Tennis Center， 50 TiantanDong Lu, Chongwen,
Phone: 010-6714-2374
TICKET PRICES(RMB): 50, 100, 150, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 800, 1200
Website: www.chinaopen.cn
The China Open, Asia's premier tennis tournament, will feature a festival-like atmosphere offering the thousands
of tennis fans not only the opportunity to watch the World's best tennis players live, but also to enjoy a truly fun-
filled experience.
When: Oct. 2-19, 2008
Where: Poly Theatre, Beijing Concert Hall and Forbidden City Concert Hall
Phone: 010-6593-0250
Price: RMB 100/380/580/780/980
Website: www.bmf.org.cn
The Beijing Music Festival is a significant date for classical music fans. Each year more than 1,000 domestic and
foreign musicians takes part in approximately 30 performances featuring artists including Jose Carreras,Valery
Gergiev and Julian Lloyd Webber. The 11th Beijing Music Festival focused on grand operas, especially the two
master pieces from the German operatic literature. One is Richard Strauss' Der Rosenkavalier (The Cavalier of
the Rose), another is Wagner's Tannhauser. Both will be held at Poly Theatre. On October 2, Deutsche Opera
Berlin, one of Germany's leading opera houses, will start off the festival with a gala of opera arias at Forbidden
City Concert Hall and the China Philharmonic Orchestra will wrap up the festival with another opera gala concert
at Poly Theatre.
When: Oct. 19, 2008
Where: Begins in Tiananmen Square and ends at the National Olympic Sports Centre
Website: www.beijing-marathon.com
A good time of the year to run when the weather is pleasant, the annual Beijing
Marathon attracts over 30,000 competitors from all over the world. The marathon
was first held in 1981 and has been a popular annual event ever since. The race
is recognised by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and as such, participants receive
official IAAF scores from the race
When: 7:30PM Saturday Dec. 6, 2008
Where: The Forbidden City Concert Hall (In Zhongshan Park,
Xichangan Jie, on the west side of Tiananmen Square, Beijing)
Musical Director: Nicholas Smith
Price: RMB 50/80/120/160/220/320/400
Website: www.beijingifc.org
Beijing international festival chorus group (国际节日合唱团) brings together musicians from all over the world and
often features visiting guest soloists. The annual Christmas performance of George Frederic Handel's Messiah
draws a loyal crowd.
What's happening in Beijing - Things to do in Beijing
- 2008 Major League Baseball (MLB) China Series
When: 1pm (Beijing Time), March 15-16, 2008
Where: Wukesong Sports Center Baseball Field
Teams: San Diego Padres vs Los Angeles Dodger
Ticket Prices(RMB): 50, 88, 280, 480, 880, 1280
Phone: 010-6551-6590
China Series tickets will start at RMB 50 per pair, there will be available for RMB 88, 280, 480, 880, and RMB
1,280 for VIP seating. Regardless of price, spectators can expect a great view of all the action at the 12,000-seat
Wukesong Olympic Baseball Field, when the Los Angeles Dodgers face the San Diego Padres on March 15 and
16. (This event has been passed)
- Olympic Torch Arrives In Beijing
When: Mar 31, 2008
Torch relay website: http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/
The Olympic torch is lit in Olympia, Greece (as per tradition) on 25 March and then arrives in Beijing on the 31st.
From here, it embarks on a six-continent voyage before returning to Beijing to ignite the 2008 Olympic Games.
The official Olympic Torch Relay has been confirmed and the route passes through the following cities: Almaty,
Istanbul, St Petersburg, London, Paris, San Francisco, Buenos Aires, Dar es Salaam, Muscat, Islamabad,
Mumbai, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Canberra, Nagano, Seoul, Pyongyang and Ho Chi Minh City - before
traversing across the Chinese provinces.
The high-point of the relay is the carrying of the flame to the top of Mount Everest during May - the highest the
flame has ever been (and ever will be) taken. There is much symbolism surrounding this climatic moment, as
China specified in their original Olympic bid. The scaling of Everest represents how Beijing hopes to take the
Olympic Games to a brand-new, previously unattained level.
- Celine Dion Concert
When: Apr 13, 2008
Where: Workers' Stadium
Opening Hours: 7.30pm
Celine Dion website: http://www.celinedion.com/
Canadian diva Celine Dion brings her Taking Chances
world tour, in support of her new album of the same name,
to the Workers' Stadium in Beijing.
Update(April 1): Celine Dion Beijing Concert has been cancelled.
On April 1, Hollywood Reporter, quoting Emma Entertainment (the organizer of Celine Dion Taking Chances
Beijing Show), reported the concert will be postponed due to concern that Beijing's April sandstorms could affect
Celine Dion’s recovery from a recent throat infection.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/features/people/e3i9c99d90cc70466f531c723db8c6f6844
Reuters, on the same day, quoting Beijing Evening News on a statement from the spokesman for Celion Dion,
reported the organizer failed to obtain a permit despite selling thousands of tickets.
http://www.reuters.com/article/peopleNews/idUSPEK8703520080402
Update (April 2): Beijing Show was cancelled due To Difficulties Securing Venue as reported on Celine Dion
Website. Contrary to earlier reports, Celine Dion is not cancelling her Beijing concert because of sandstorms and
She is looking forward to a future concert in Beijing.
- Colors and Olympism - the 3rd Beijing International Art Biennale
When: July 8 - Aug 12, 2008
Where: 1 Wusi Dajie, National Art Museum of China (中国美术馆),
Dongcheng District, Beijing
Phone: 010-6401-7076, 010-6401-2252
Admission Fee: RMB 20
Website: www.namoc.org
An international art exhibit, the largest in China for 50 years, opened on July 8 to mark the August Olympiad.
Themed "Colors and Olympics," the third Beijing International Art Biennial features 747 sculptures and paintings
by 701 artists from 81 countries.
- Beijing 2008 Olympic Games
When: Aug 8-24, 2008
Where: Beijing, Hong Kong, Qingdao, Shanghai, Shenyang, Tianjin and Qinhuangdao
Beijing 2008 Olympic Games websites: http://en.beijing2008.cn/
Beijing is the host of the 2008 Olympic Games. Millions around the world are expected
to tune in to watch their countries fight for those all-important gold medals in over 300
events.
Over 30 venues have been allocated to accommodate the intense competition schedule, with the Olympic Green
as the focal point. This complex is located in the north-eastern district of Chaoyang, and houses the grand
purpose-built National Stadium, a huge venue also known as the Bird's Nest thanks to its criss-cross structure
and ring-like shape. It has a capacity of 80,000 and hosts both the opening and closing ceremonies, athletic
events and football finals.
Outside of the Olympic Green, there are several other Olympic venues across Beijing and in six other Chinese
cities. Hong Kong hosts the equestrian events, sailing takes place in Qingdao and there are football preliminary
rounds in Shanghai, Shenyang, Tianjin and Qinhuangdao.
Over the course of the event, more than 10,000 athletes flock to China to compete across 28 summer sports,
from athletics to wrestling. Here are XXIX Olympic Games Schedule, 2008 Summer Olympic Games Preview,
2008 Beijing Olympics Guide Book including Events Schedule, Restaurants, Attractions, Hotels and Transport
and Venue Maps.
- Cai Guo-Qiang: I Want to Believe, National Art Museum of China, Beijing, 2008
When: August 19 - September 2, 2008
Where: 1 Wusi Dajie, National Art Museum of China, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Phone: 010-6401-7076, 010-6401-2252
Opening Hours: 9am-5pm daily
Admission Fee: RMB 20
Website: www.namoc.org
The highest profile art event during the Beijing Olympics will be Cai Guo-Qiang's "I Want to Believe" retrospective,
at the National Art Museum of China. Cai Guo-Qiang is an internationally acclaimed Chinese artist and curator.
His most conspicuously achievement, a set of 14 of his gunpowder drawings sold at Christie’s in Hong Kong in
2007 for $9.5 million, setting an auction record for contemporary Chinese art. His work breaks down into three
very different categories — installation art, gunpowder land art pieces and enormous gunpowder drawings. The
exhibition, which attracted record crowds while at the New York Guggenheim spring 2008, will travel to the
Guggenheim Bilbao in Spring 2009. Cai, in collaboration with Fireworks by Grucci, is also designing a pyrotechnic
display for the opening and closing ceremonies of Beijing Olympics.
When: September 6-17, 2008
Where: Beijing
Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games Website: http://en.beijing2008.cn/paralympic/
The 2008 proceedings kick-off with a spectacular ceremony on 6 September,
followed by an intense 12-day competition schedule. The 400-plus events take
place in venues across Beijing and also in two other Chinese cities. Hong Kong
hosts the equestrian events, while sailing takes place in Qingdao.
- China Tennis Open 2008
When: September 20-28, 2008
Where: Beijing International Tennis Center， 50 TiantanDong Lu, Chongwen,
Phone: 010-6714-2374
TICKET PRICES(RMB): 50, 100, 150, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 800, 1200
Website: www.chinaopen.cn
The China Open, Asia's premier tennis tournament, will feature a festival-like atmosphere offering the thousands
of tennis fans not only the opportunity to watch the World's best tennis players live, but also to enjoy a truly fun-
filled experience.
- The 11th Beijng Music Festival 第十一届北京国际音乐节
When: Oct. 2-19, 2008
Where: Poly Theatre, Beijing Concert Hall and Forbidden City Concert Hall
Phone: 010-6593-0250
Price: RMB 100/380/580/780/980
Website: www.bmf.org.cn
The Beijing Music Festival is a significant date for classical music fans. Each year more than 1,000 domestic and
foreign musicians takes part in approximately 30 performances featuring artists including Jose Carreras,Valery
Gergiev and Julian Lloyd Webber. The 11th Beijing Music Festival focused on grand operas, especially the two
master pieces from the German operatic literature. One is Richard Strauss' Der Rosenkavalier (The Cavalier of
the Rose), another is Wagner's Tannhauser. Both will be held at Poly Theatre. On October 2, Deutsche Opera
Berlin, one of Germany's leading opera houses, will start off the festival with a gala of opera arias at Forbidden
City Concert Hall and the China Philharmonic Orchestra will wrap up the festival with another opera gala concert
at Poly Theatre.
- Beijing International Marathon, 2008 北京国际马拉松赛, 2008年北京国際マラソンは
When: Oct. 19, 2008
Where: Begins in Tiananmen Square and ends at the National Olympic Sports Centre
Website: www.beijing-marathon.com
A good time of the year to run when the weather is pleasant, the annual Beijing
Marathon attracts over 30,000 competitors from all over the world. The marathon
was first held in 1981 and has been a popular annual event ever since. The race
is recognised by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and as such, participants receive
official IAAF scores from the race
- Annual Christmas Performance of Handel's Messiah by Beijing International Festival Chorus
When: 7:30PM Saturday Dec. 6, 2008
Where: The Forbidden City Concert Hall (In Zhongshan Park,
Xichangan Jie, on the west side of Tiananmen Square, Beijing)
Musical Director: Nicholas Smith
Price: RMB 50/80/120/160/220/320/400
Website: www.beijingifc.org
Beijing international festival chorus group (国际节日合唱团) brings together musicians from all over the world and
often features visiting guest soloists. The annual Christmas performance of George Frederic Handel's Messiah
draws a loyal crowd.
2009 Upcoming Events and Festivals in Beijing
What's happening in Beijing - Things to do in Beijing
6th Edition of the China International Gallery Exposition (CIGE 2009) will take place at the China World Trade
Centre Exhibition Hall in Beijing in April 16 – 19, 2009
When: May 22-24, 2009
Where: China World Trade Center (aka Guomao), 1 Jianguomen Wai Dajie, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Chinese Address: 中国北京建国门外大街一号
Phone: 010-6505 2288
Transportation: Subway Line 1 or 10 at Guomao
Map of China World Trade Center
Website: www.expatshowbeijing.com
Expat show Beijing aims to gather 10,000 expatriate people regardless of age or nationality over 3 days. 150+
exhibitors will showcase their products and services that fulfill a specific need of this high income and
information-thirsty community.
When: 26 July 2009 - 31 July 2009
Where: China National Convention Center, 7 Tianchen East Road, Chaoyang, Beijing
Phone: 010-8463-8703/8463
Website: www.fism2009.org
Location Map for China National Convention Center-Venue for Magic Beijing 2009
The event is the first International Federation of Magic Society (FISM) championship in a developing country
since its founding 58 years ago.
Where: Beijing National Stadium - Bird's Nest
Ten years after "Nessun dorma" resounded in the Forbidden City, opera lovers will be able to see Puccini's
"Turandot" in another Beijing landmark building, the Bird's Nest. Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou, director of
the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony, will mount "Turandot" in the National Stadium to mark the one year
anniversary of the Beijing Olympic Games, For one night only, an all-Chinese cast will perform the opera. And
on the other two nights, international "stars" will be invited.
When: Nov. 3-4, 2009
Where: Beijing Olympic Stadium - Bird's Nest
The Race of Champions was started in 1988 by Fredrik Johnsson and Michèle Mouton, the world’s most
successful female rally driver. The event has traditionally moved from venue to venue around the world, being
most recently held at the Stade de France in Paris (2004-2006) and Wembley Stadium in London (2007-
2008). The 2009 event will take place in The Beijing National Stadium on Tuesday 3 and Wednesday 4
November (two days after the end of the Formula One season in Abu Dhabi) on a specially constructed
asphalt circuit. The Race Of Champions is made up of two separate competitions – The ROC Nations Cup and
The Race of Champions itself.Last year's participants included retired seven times Formula One world
champion Michael Schumacher and world rally champion Sebastien Loeb.
What's happening in Beijing - Things to do in Beijing
- China International Gallery Exposition (CIGE 2009)
6th Edition of the China International Gallery Exposition (CIGE 2009) will take place at the China World Trade
Centre Exhibition Hall in Beijing in April 16 – 19, 2009
- Expat Show Beijing
When: May 22-24, 2009
Where: China World Trade Center (aka Guomao), 1 Jianguomen Wai Dajie, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Chinese Address: 中国北京建国门外大街一号
Phone: 010-6505 2288
Transportation: Subway Line 1 or 10 at Guomao
Map of China World Trade Center
Website: www.expatshowbeijing.com
Expat show Beijing aims to gather 10,000 expatriate people regardless of age or nationality over 3 days. 150+
exhibitors will showcase their products and services that fulfill a specific need of this high income and
information-thirsty community.
- FISM World Championships of Magic Beijing 2009
When: 26 July 2009 - 31 July 2009
Where: China National Convention Center, 7 Tianchen East Road, Chaoyang, Beijing
Phone: 010-8463-8703/8463
Website: www.fism2009.org
Location Map for China National Convention Center-Venue for Magic Beijing 2009
The event is the first International Federation of Magic Society (FISM) championship in a developing country
since its founding 58 years ago.
- Puccini's opera: Turandot
Where: Beijing National Stadium - Bird's Nest
Ten years after "Nessun dorma" resounded in the Forbidden City, opera lovers will be able to see Puccini's
"Turandot" in another Beijing landmark building, the Bird's Nest. Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou, director of
the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony, will mount "Turandot" in the National Stadium to mark the one year
anniversary of the Beijing Olympic Games, For one night only, an all-Chinese cast will perform the opera. And
on the other two nights, international "stars" will be invited.
- 2009 Race of Champions moves to Beijing's Bird's Nest Stadium
When: Nov. 3-4, 2009
Where: Beijing Olympic Stadium - Bird's Nest
The Race of Champions was started in 1988 by Fredrik Johnsson and Michèle Mouton, the world’s most
successful female rally driver. The event has traditionally moved from venue to venue around the world, being
most recently held at the Stade de France in Paris (2004-2006) and Wembley Stadium in London (2007-
2008). The 2009 event will take place in The Beijing National Stadium on Tuesday 3 and Wednesday 4
November (two days after the end of the Formula One season in Abu Dhabi) on a specially constructed
asphalt circuit. The Race Of Champions is made up of two separate competitions – The ROC Nations Cup and
The Race of Champions itself.Last year's participants included retired seven times Formula One world
champion Michael Schumacher and world rally champion Sebastien Loeb.
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