Cultural events ongoing in Beijing

Events

Capital M Literary Festival

Novelist/essayist Ian Johnson, journalist Pankaj Mishra and historian and blogger Jeffrey Wasserstrom discuss the topic of writing without borders, including the perils, pitfalls and pleasures of writing about different places for different audiences. The inaugural festival lasts until March 12.

March 3, 6:30 pm. Silver Room at Capital M, 3/F, 2 Qianmen, 6702-2727.

前门大街2号3层

Bookworm International Literary Festival

Plenty of writers throughout history have been scientists, mathematicians and doctors. How does a background in hard science prepare one for a life of writing?

Particle physicist Paolo Giordano and mathematician Guillermo Martinez discuss how their training has molded their minds and inspired their work. The festival lasts until March 18 across Beijing, Suzhou and Chengdu.

Mar 5, 10 am, 50 yuan. The Bookworm, Sanlitun Nanjie, 6586-9507.

三里屯南街4号楼书虫

Concert: Colorful Roses

The National Center for the Performing Arts presents a special concert for International Women's Day 2011.

The conductor Chen Lin has been studying piano since childhood and has conducted both domestic and international orchestras. She now teaches at the Central Conservatory of Music.

Mar 4, 7:30 pm, 80-480 yuan. National Center for the Performing Arts, 2 West Chang'an Avenue, Xicheng district,

6655-0000.

国家大剧院

Kunqu Opera: The Peony Pavilion

The Peony Pavilion is a masterpiece by Tang Xianzu from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) that depicts the love story between Du Liniang and Liu Mengmei.

Since Ming times, the Peony Pavilion has almost become synonym of Kunqu Opera.

Mar 6, 7:30 pm, 150 yuan. National Center for the Performing Arts, 2 West Chang'an Avenue, Xicheng district,

6655-0000.

国家大剧院

Concert: Reggae party

It may still be frosty outside but Meiwenti Sound System heats up 2 Kolegas with their monthly Reggae party.

Mar 5, 9:30pm, 50 yuan. 2 Kolegas, 21 Liangmaqiao Lu (inside the drive-in movie theater park), Chaoyang district, 6436 8998.

亮马桥路21号(汽车电影院内)

Chinese for Everyday Life

Explore Beijing and Chinese culture together in a relaxed environment, with teachers who can explain everything from difficult but useful grammar to everyday computer slang in a language you can understand.

Let us show you how to read menus, learn about different spices used in cooking, how to bargain and how to adjust the key from C to G for your favorite KTV song.

Classes run from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm and cost 30 yuan.

March 6 to May 15. The Hutong, 1 Jiudaowan Zhongxiang Hutong. For more details, visit thehutong.com/blog/chinese-for-everyday-life.

九道弯中巷胡同1号

Exhibits

Solo show by Sun Ying

With her delicate and sensitive observation, Sun Ying's paintings reveal the world through her eyes. Her paintings show that illusion is the essence of real life and that memories are filtered, harmonized and idealized by force. What she wants to express is the melancholy.

March 5 to April 6. Line Gallery Warehouse, 798 Art Zone, 2 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang district, 5978-9916.

酒仙桥路2号院3818库内玉兰堂画廊

Memory and Identity

This group exhibition has been organized by Alessandro Rolandi, an Italian artist based in Beijing for many years.

Nicola Vinci, an Italian photographer known for portrait photos, will join this show with a project idealized during his residence program in Beijing.

March 5 to April 16. 255 Caochangdi, Chaoyang district, 6431-1567.

朝阳区机场辅路草场地255

(China Daily 03/02/2011)