What's on

Beijing

Puppet show

The modern puppet show Eight and a Half Floors is about love, life and friends.

Xiaodi follows his mother to the museum for his birthday. But accidentally, he opens the door to the "eight and a half floor" and all the animal specimens come alive. His mother too turns into a dog. In order to get off this floor and make his mother human again, he and his animal friends have to find the ghost who holds the key to their escape.

7:15 pm, Aug 5-8.Capital Theater, 22 Wangfujing Dajie, Dongcheng district. 010-5949-2221/2223

Fairytale drama

The children's drama Journey to the West III, adapted from the eponymous classic, revolves around the Buddhist master Tangseng and his three disciples (Monkey King, Zhu Wuneng and Sha Wujing) who travel to ancient India to bring back holy scriptures. The drama features some representative parts such as the sacrifice of the river god in Tongtian River, and the fight in Huoyan Mountain.

From July 23 to Aug 1, every Friday 7:15 pm, Saturday 3 pm and 7:15 pm, Sunday 3 pm; Sunday 7:15 pm, Aug 13-15. China Children's Art Theater, 64 Dong'anmen Dajie, Dongcheng district. 010-6521-1425

University choir

Dekoor Close Harmony, a 25-memeber choir from Utrecht University in the Netherlands, is coming to Beijing this weekend. Founded in 1985, the members' majors vary from Law to Medicine, Arts and Social Sciences. The choir performs jazz, pop, Latin and classical pieces under the baton of conductor, Christoph Mac-Carty.

The choir sings mostly a cappella but also enjoys the accompaniment of a combo consisting of bass, drums and piano for parts of the repertoire. Their energetic performances have been thrilled audiences in the United States, South Korea and Italy.

8:30 pm, Aug 1. Starlive, 3/F, Tango, 79 Heping Xijie, Dongcheng district. 010-6425-5677

Man Fong concerts

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of her singing career, Taiwan singer and actress Man Fong will perform several of her classic hits and new songs. Titled Let's not Grieve Anymore, the shows will also feature Music Found & Lost, a concert series held by the cutting-edge City Pictorial magazine, based in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province.

Man began to sing while still in college, and she has released 20 albums so far. She has established a niche for herself in theater, TV and films. She also hosts a radio program.

Aug 7. Tu Space, inside Sculpture Garden, 545 Xiatang Xilu, Yuexiu district, Guangzhou. 020-3659-7623

Aug 10. Mao Livehouse, Building 32, 570 Huaihai Xilu, Changning district, Shanghai. 021-5258-9999

Aug 12. Yi Space, No 5, 719 Creativity Park, 19 Ganluyuan, Chaoyang district, Beijing. 010-5914-8087/8089

Ink landscapes

Veteran Artist Fan Yang's solo exhibition of ink landscapes is running at the newly -opened Beijing Fenghuangling Art Museum.

On view are more than 80 of Fan's latest works featuring the landscapes of Shanxi, Fujian, Hunan, Jiangxi and Anhui provinces.

Over the years, the 55-year-old professor with the China National Painting Academy has created numerous on-the-spot ink paintings during his extensive trips to rural China, especially the mountainous areas.

10 am-5 pm, until Aug 10. 2 Caochangcun Lu, Haidian district. 010-6240-5836

Cultural relics

An exhibition showcases some 150 select articles, chosen from the more than 30,000 pieces in the collections of the Capital Museum.

Arranged chronologically, the exhibits range from the Stone Age through the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) to contemporary times. Highlights include the black pottery jars of the New Stone Age, three-color glazed sculptures of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and Qing dynasty wood furniture.

9 am-5 pm, until Aug 1 except Monday. Capital Museum, 16 Fuxingmenwai Dajie, Xicheng district. 010-6337-0491/2

Shanghai

Symphony concert

The Basel Symphony Orchestra (Sinfonieorchester Basel) will give a concert to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Sino-Swiss diplomatic relationship. The concert will be led by one of the world's most renowned conductors, Mario Venzago and violinist, Mengla Huang.

7:30 pm, Aug 11. Shanghai Oriental Arts Center, 457 Dingxiang Lu. 021-6854-1234

Singer of old Shanghai

The dance drama Zhou Xuan will be staged at the Shanghai Grand Theater. The drama recounts the life of the famous 1940s' Shanghai singer and movie actress.

A striking beauty from a poor family, Zhou experienced great success, dramatic love and a great deal of pain due to the social turmoil. Audiences will hear original recordings of her singing in the play.

7:15 pm, Aug 13-15. Shanghai Grand Theater, 300 Renmin Avenue. 021-6217-2426