Here’s the second installment of our Beijing 2010 preview: what’s opening, who’s coming, when it’s happening, where to play and what lies ahead.

UNDER GROUND

Four extensions to existing lines:

• Batong Line and Subway Line 1 become one; Sihui and Sihui Dong stations will be renamed; three new stations will be added to Line 1’s western extreme
• Line 5 extended south to Yizhuang
• Line 4 extended south to Tiangongyuan in Daxing District
• Line 8 extended north to Changping District

Two new lines:
• Fangshan Line connecting the National Library and Sunzhuang Dajie
• First section of Line 15 to open, connecting Houshayu and Wangjing West

HATS BEIJING

Elisabeth Koch, milliner, says:

“Insider Magazine’s December issue voted me as one of the top 100 socialites in China in 2009. With many projects at the moment, I can’t wait to see what 2010 has in store! Upwards and onwards, I say!

“I’m excited about the opening of Ming Box, a platform for international and Chinese designers and creative people in the Gulou area.

“People will turn more and more towards environmentally friendly produced products and clothing.”

BIG ART: “RE-SHAPING HISTORY”

Lv Peng, the leading historian of Chinese modern and contemporary art, will stage a series of exhibitions at Beijing’s leading spaces this April. In keeping with the ambitious title, Lv promises new works from established stars as well as introducing a raft of new names.

BIG EATS: ROOMbeijing

Brian McKenna, restaurateur, says:

“I just want something simple. I want to know I can spend 100 kuai, have a great piece of chicken, good service, a lovely place and be relaxed and comfortable, go home happy. The city doesn’t have enough of that.

“I want to really empower the customer, so a big thing is no service charge. I don’t want to become the enemy of Beijing, but I want people to ask why they pay that money, because I do as a customer.”

The main motifs for ROOMbeijing are “flowers” and “electricity.” His and hers private rooms lie behind concealed, fingerprint-activated doors. The open kitchen is taken a step further as the whole back of house is brought out front (think Hell’s Kitchen). Despite being a bar/lounge/restaurant, patrons can eat anywhere they desire – no limits, no formalities. Scheduled to open in the spring.

ON THE STAGE

• Beijing Modern Dance Festival (May 6-17)
The Egg hosts its first-ever modern dance festival.

• Two new works by Sang Jijia, the resident choreographer of BeijingDance/LDTX and the world’s first Tibetan modern dance choreo-grapher. The City Contemporary Dance Company (Hong Kong) will premiere his work, As If to Nothing, on January 8 at the PLA Theater. The other will be shown at the Beijing Modern Dance Festival in May.

BIG BEATS: WHITE RABBIT

Out with the old, in with the new. With the move to Sanlitun in December 2009, a new emphasis on the quality of drinks served and the same old commitment to music for music’s sake, White Rabbit is ready to shake off the “after-hours dive” tag and take Beijing by storm in 2010. Sanlitun might never be the same.

Thomas Gaestadius, impresario, says:

“The old White Rabbit had this perfect warehouse kind of feel - it was just a box located in a basement. We’ll try to keep this vibe with the music, but Sanlitun is a different game and this space has a totally different feel.”

MUSIC FESTIVALS

JUE|MUSIC|ART 2010! (March) • Sally Can’t Dance Festival (March) • 2 Kolegas Folk Festival (May) • Midi (tipped for May) • Strawberry (May) • Modern Sky (Oct)

Click here for the previous installment:
 
http://www.thebeijinger.com/blog/2010/01/11/Sneak-Peek-2010-Part-I