Hong Kong

Salsa Festival 2014

The city will be in the grip of a one-week extravaganza devoted to the popular Latin social dance. Events include international crew performances, street dances, club parties and the third World Salsa Championships. Seventy workshops from leading global trainers will be staged for the uninitiated, while Cali or Casino-style experts will have their pick of partners or competitors during the seven-day fete to the energetic dance form.

Various times and venues, Feb 19-23. Hksalsafestival.net.

The 42nd Hong Kong Arts Festival

The annual climax of performance arts events in the city will feature Asia's best alongside leading artists from all over the globe. Offerings are especially diverse this year, ranging from fares for diehard classicalists to the avant-garde and unabashedly unorthodox. Performing luminaries include five 2014 Grammy Award nominees as well as world-renowned choreographers.

Various times and venues, Feb 18-March 22. 852-2824-2430. Hk.artsfestival.org.

Artisans' outdoor fair

A collection of local and expatriate foodies will be facing down independent artisan chefs and brewers at the inaugural Harbour Artisanal. Former banker turned event organizer Timothy Bush said the event will unite Hong Kong's best boutique food and beverage purveyors. More then 20 vendors will be participating, many of which are the best-kept secrets in their neighborhood, such as La Rotisserie, The Butcher's Club, Hop Leaf, Sugo and Saffron.

Noon-6 pm, Feb 22. Fire Dragon Path, Tai Hang, Causeway Bay. Harbourartisanal.com

- Timo Chui

Shanghai

Zen meditation salon

This weekly gathering of like-minded souls enables all aspiring Zen masters to embark on the road to enlightenment while learning how to connect with themselves and others in what is described as a "non-networky environment". Voluntary donations of 50 yuan ($8.25) are welcomed. Attendees are encouraged to bring a poem or reading to share. Contact InterNations Shanghai for more details.

7-8 pm, Feb 17. Taikang Lu (Road), Lane 200, Building 3, 311.

Casino-style salsa workshop

This ongoing salsa workshop is running throughout 2014, hosted by Cuba's National School of Art graduate Sheila Montes de Oca. She will instruct on various Cuban techniques, including individual, duo and wheel casino, giving you a chance to dance like the stars. Unlike LA or New York styles, Cuban Casino-style involves more movement of the torso and shoulders. An eight-session package costs 800 yuan.

7:30-9 pm, Mondays and 1-2:30 pm, Saturdays. Miguel de Cervantes Library, 198-208 Anfu Lu (Road). 021-5467-0098. E-mail: censha@cervantes.es.

Shanghai music history tour

Brush up on your local history with this specially themed city tour led by author and Chinese history scholar Andrew Field. The tour zeroes in on the cultural role of Shanghai's Russian community in the roaring '20s and '30s, the city's Music Conservatory and its historical legacy as the jazz metropolis of the Far East. The itinerary brings you up to date with the current jazz scene by stopping at the Cotton Club and JZ Club. Tickets cost 400 yuan, excluding dinner and drinks.

8-10:30 pm, Feb 21. Meet at Pushkin Memorial at the intersection of Dongping Lu (Road) and Yueyang Lu (Road). 021-3382-1770 (Community Center Shanghai).

- Matt Hodges

Beijing

Know someone with wow factor?

The FC Group is seeking nominations for its annual Wonderful Outstanding Women, annual awards that salute unsung achievers in education, media, fashion, hospitality and other industries. Awards will be presented at a hotel gala on March 8, International Women's Day.

To nominate a woman, get information on sponsoring the event or reserve gala tickets, contact the FC Group at info@fcgroup.org or 010-5240-1938.

Drink like a Chinese admiral

The InterNations wine-appreciation group will meet at Enoterra for a tasting featuring 1421, the first traceable Chinese wines. Nestled in the foothills of western China's Tian Shan Mountains, at the same latitude as Bordeaux, the 1421 vineyards enjoy spectacular growing conditions. The vines are of French origin and were planted in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region 11 years ago. The wine label's name is a tribute to 15th-century Chinese navigator Zheng He.

7:30 pm, Feb 26. D405, Nali Patio, 81 Sanlitun Lu (Road). 186-0122-6175.

Exploring health the Chinese way

Alex Tan explains the keys to Chinese metaphysical ideas and how to launch into a new paradigm of health, taking you to the place where you have new vibrancy and energy. The free talk on traditional Chinese medicine and health on Feb 19 is a lead-in to a five-week workshop, Eat Breathe Sleep, on Sundays and Wednesdays starting this month.

10-11:30 am, Feb 19. The Hutong, 1 Jiudaowan Zhongxiang Hutong. 159-0104-6127. Thehutong.com

- Mike Peters

(China Daily 02/16/2014 page5)