What's on

China Daily | Updated: 2010-01-04 08:08

Stage

New version of old classic

What's on

The Soldier's Cultural Troupe of the Political Department of Beijing Military Area will stage the dance-drama A Dream of Red Mansions, combining elements of traditional Chinese with modern choreography. The story centers on the tragic love of Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu set against the background of a feudal family. Although the story, adapted from Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) novelist Cao Xueqin's classic work, has been made into film, TV serials, local operas and dramas, the dance-drama has a unique style. The dances capture vividly the characters of the play's more than a dozen young women.

7:30 pm, Jan 5, 6. 120-480 yuan. National Center for the Performing Arts, west of Tian'anmen Square. 6655-0000

国家大剧院, 天安门广场西

Remembering a master

What's on

To commemorate the 200th anniversary of Frederic Chopin (1810-49), the Beijing Concert Hall will host a concert featuring the works of the great Polish musician and other masters. It includes Chopin's Piano Concerto in F Minor No 2 Op 21, Edward Elgar's Prelude and Allegro No 47 and Robert Schumann's Concert Music in F Major No 86.

Its young conductor Yang Yang is known for his confidence and precision.

7:30 pm, Jan 9. Beijing Concert Hall, 1 Beixinhua Jie, Xicheng district. 6605-7006/5812

北京音乐厅, 西城区北新华街

Exhibitions

Flowers and birds

What's on

A grand exhibition of Chinese flower-and-bird paintings is being held at Prince Gong's Palace in downtown Beijing and will run through the Spring Festival season.

More than 100 colored ink paintings depicting flowers, animals, insects and ancient hermits, by nine famed artists including Guo Shifu, Xing Shaocheng, Mo Xiaosong and Liu Wanming, all sourced from major art academies in Beijing, are on display, says curator Sun Xuguang.

The exhibition kicks off a series of art events at Prince Gong's Palace, the best-preserved palace of Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) princes, that now serves as a museum under the Ministry of Culture.

10 am-5 pm, until Feb 28. Prince Gong's Palace, 14A Liuyinjie, Xicheng district. 6611-6050, 6618-6628

北京市西城区柳荫街甲14号

Events

Great wine deals

Select your favorite brand from a special wine list and enjoy 50 percent discount on Enoteca's Delicatessen Discovery Plate. The deal is on every Monday.

10 am-2 pm, Jan 4. Enoteca, M102 Northern Tower, The Place, 9A Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang district. 6587-1578

朝阳区光华路9A世贸天阶北街F1-M102

The Monday advantage

Every Monday you will get 15 percent off on all wines at Luga's Villa. For 88 yuan, you can get a tenderloin steak, served with vegetables and French fries, to go with your drinks. Live Latin music plays from 7 to 10 pm.

Jan 4. Luga's Villa, 7 Sanlitun Beijie (Behind The Village 3.3), Chaoyang district. 6416-2575

朝阳区三里屯北里7号楼 (3.3 大厦后)

Sketch like a pro

At this drawing class you will pick up the basics of painting live models. This is a great chance to extend your creativity.

The class is open to students of all levels. Remember to bring your own painting materials.

7:30 pm, Jan 4. 50-60 yuan. The Hutong, 1 Zhongxiang Hutong, Jiudaowan, Dongcheng district. 136-9352-6256

东城区九道弯中巷胡同1号

Out & About

Hiking to walled village

The tour starts from Zhuangdaokou, where you can take a look at the 300-year-old "Phoenix and Dragon" pine trees, before hiking up the Zhuangdaokou Great Wall. Once up there, one is offered two options -- an easy, flat walk and a tougher route, both leading to a walled village, which used to be an old army camp, where soldiers guarding the Great Wall lived.

Meet at Lido Starbucks (north-east gate of Lido Holiday Inn, 6 Jiangtailu, Chaoyang district) for bus transportation. Visit www.beijinghikers.com for reservation and more information.

8:30 am, Jan 6. 300 yuan. Beijing Hikers, Room1907, Building 107, Jiangfu Jiayuan, Xiaochengezhuang, Jiangtai Donglu, Chaoyang district. 5137-4906

朝阳区将台东路小陈各庄将府家园107号楼1907号

CCTV-9

09:30 Nature & Science

09:55 Chinese Civilization

10:15 Sports Scene

10:30 New Frontiers

11:30: Around China

13:00 Dialogue

13:30 Rediscovering China

14:30 Culture Express

15:15 Learn to speak Chinese

15:30 Nature and Science

15:55 Chinese Civilization

16:15 Sports Scene

16:30 New Frontiers

17:30 Documentary

18:30 Around China

19:30 Dialogue

20:00 Asia Today

20:30 Culture Express

21:30 Rediscovering China

22:00 China Today

22:30 New Frontiers

23:15 Sports Scene

23:30 Documentary

HBO

8:20 Roger & Me

9:45 Flashdance

11:15 Footloose

13:00 Role Models

14:35 The Making Of Changeling

15:00 Over The Top

16:35 The Making Of Charlie Wilson's War

17:00 A Mighty Heart

19:00 Baby Mama

20:35The Making Of Changeling

21:00 Entourage S601: Drive

21:30 Entourage S602: Amongst Friends

22:00 Hung S101: Pilot

22:45 Hung S102: "Great Sausage" Or "Can I Call You Dick?"

23:15 Head Case S108: A Tard For All Seasons

23:40Head Case S109: Goode Vibes

ESPN STAR sports

08:00 Repeat Cev Beach Volleyball European Championship Tour - German Masters

09:00 Repeat Cev Beach Volleyball European Championship Tour - German Masters

10:00 First Air Sportscenter Right Now

10:01 Repeat Planet Speed 2009/10

10:30 Repeat PBA World Championship

11:59 Repeat Sportscenter Right Now

12:00 Repeat FA Cup 2009/10

Match: Milton Keynes vs. Burnley

14:00 2010 Argentina - Chile Dakar

14:30 Repeat Sportscenter Right Now

14:31 ACC Sunday Night Hoops

Match: Xavier vs. Wake Forest

16:30 Repeat Football Asia 2009/10

17:00 Repeat Sportscenter Right Now

17:01 ACC Sunday Night Hoops

Match: Clemson vs. Duke

19:00 Repeat 2010 Argentina - Chile Dakar

19:30 Live Sportscenter Asia

20:00 First Air 2009 Women's Tournament Of Champions

21:00 Repeat Planet Speed 2009/10

21:30 Repeat Football Asia 2009/10

22:00 Repeat Sportscenter Asia

Radio

CRI highlight

China Drive, Monday to Friday between 11 am -12 am and 5pm -7pm, serves up lifestyle, entertainment, discussion and practical news you can use. Bilingual presentation, lively conversation and inspired music. It's live and interactive.

07:00-07:30 News & Reports

07:30-08:00 People In the Know

08:00-11:00 EZ Morning

11:00-12:00 China Drive

12:00-14:00 Third Wheel

14:00-17:00 EZ Cafe

17:00-19:00 China Drive

19:00-20:00 Sunset Blvd

20:00-22:00 The Pulse

22:00-23:00 All That Jazz

23:00-23:30 News & Reports

23:30-24:00 Frontline + Chinese Studio

00:00-03:00 China Now

Films

Classic French tragedy

What's on

The classic French tragedy, Cyrano de Bergerac, tells the tale of the soulful poet, philosopher and expert duelist named Cyrano who falls in love with the fair Roxanne but cannot bring himself to woo her because he has a complex about his huge nose. Instead, he writes love letters on behalf of the slow-witted, but handsome Christian, in order to win her hand for him. She falls deeply in love with the author, without knowing his true identity.

The film, directed by Jean-Paul Rappeneau, is in French with English subtitles.

French Cultural Center, 18 Guangcai International Mansion, Gongtixilu, Chaoyang district.

法国文化中心, 朝阳区工体西路18号光彩国际公寓

Meet the director

What's on

Classmates is a documentary film by Lin Xin. Lin Xin and his classmates get together after 30 years and look back on the time since they left school.

They try to recall the different experiences they went through, the comforts, the loneliness in success and the helplessness in poverty. All of these add up to make vignettes of life in small-to-middle-sized cities.

Lin Xin will talk about his film after the screening.

6 pm, Jan 4. Free. Beijing Film Academy, 4 Xitucheng Lu, Haidian district.

海淀区西土城路4号

biggest 3D bet

Hailed as the most expensive film of all time, Avatar finally comes to Beijing. Go to the theater and appreciate its marvelous special effects and fantastic story.

Other films

A Simple Noodle Story

Bodyguards and Assassins

The Treasure Hunter

(The above films are Chinese with English subtitles)

2012 (English)

G Force (English)

Capital Cinema

10/F, Joy City Shopping Mall, Xidan Beidajie, Xicheng district. 6601-8177

西城区西单北大街大悦城10层

Star City

BB65, Oriental Plaza, 1 Dongchang'an Jie, Wangfujingeast side of Oriental Plaza. 8518-5804