What's on: Beijing

The conductor Valery Gergiev and Mariinsky Theater symphony orchestra are an ideal match for most music aficionados, and will play Tchaikovsky's works as the prelude to Art Week at National Center for the Performing Arts. As a musician of the highest order, Gergiev is considered the perfect conductor of Tchaikovsky and together with the Mariinsky Orchestra, they will present a feast brimming with Russian style.

7:30 pm, until Oct 2. National Center for the Performing Arts, 2 West Chang'an Avenue, Xicheng district. 010-6655-0000

Better in Beijing

Young sculptor Xiang Jing is holding her solo exhibition Will Things Ever Get Better? in Beijing.

In the past, Xing's sculptures, mostly female nudes, have attempted to explore social issues associated with Chinese women.

This time however, she tries to raise questions pertaining to all mankind, with her 14 sets of large-scale sculptures from the Animals and Acrobats series that she has been working on since late 2008.

10 am-6pm, until Oct 18. 32 Baizuwan Lu, Chaoyang district. 010-5876-9690

Sculptures and installations

Young sculptor Li Wei is holding her solo exhibition entitled Heroes. On display are three sets of sculptures and installations she has created over the past year to "challenge viewers' conventional thinking about heroism, death and beauty".

Li is noted for her frequent shift between different mediums. "I use whatever I see fit to express my feelings and ideas."

10 am-6 pm, until Oct 4. Today Art Museum, 32 Baizuwan Lu, Chaoyang district. 010-5876-9690

Ink portraits

The Cafa Art Museum is hosting a retrospective show of renowned ink portrait painter Li Qi (1928-2009).

On view are more than 100 of his well-known portraits of former Chinese leaders and ordinary people, and some rarely seen of flower-and-bird paintings, calligraphy scrolls, sketches and manuscripts.

Li's artistic career started in 1937 when he joined the Communist army in Yan'an, Shaanxi province, to fight against Japanese aggression.

10 am-5 pm, until Oct 10. 8 Huajiadi Nanjie, Chaoyang district. 010-6477-1575

'Calligraffiti'

The street exhibition Off Canvas has graphic design, art and graffiti by international and local artists, such as Neville Brody, Ben Eine and Niels Shoe Meulman.

In 2007, Meulman launched "calligraffiti," an art form that fuses calligraphy and graffiti. Since then, his calligraffiti pieces have been shown in various international exhibitions and are part of several museum collections.

His recent painting style can be described as Abstract Expressionism inspired by calligraphy.

Until Oct 3. Green Room, The Opposite House, Sanlitun Village, Chaoyang district

Antique and arts fair

The first Changping Antique and Fine Arts Fair will display Chinese antiques that have returned from overseas in recent decades. They include paintings and murals, chinaware, lacquer works, jade and enamel ware, and antique furniture.

It is planned to make the fair an annual event and it is expected to become the largest one of its kind in China.

9 am-6 pm, Oct 15-17. Sihe Xincun, Nanshao town, Changping district. To get there, drive along Jingzang Highway to Changping Exit, and then drive east along Nanhuan Lu. Follow the signs along the road