TGIF: Make the Most of Your Weekend With These Killer Activities
The weekend is here! Time for fun, relaxation, and recharging the ol' batteries ahead of *gulp* Monday morning's alarm clock. Luckily enough, there’s plenty of fun stuff to keep you occupied over the weekend that doesn't necessarily involve getting blitzed. Our TGIF roundup offers you some of the best.
While away the weekend at a seaside resort
Located in the Qinhuangdao, Aranya Resort is a chic holiday resort home to unique buildings such as churches, art centers, and the beautifully designed Beachside Charity Public Library. One of our favorite Beijing livehouses, DDC, also recently opened a branch in the resort, inviting bands out to play by the coast. This weekend, post-punk band Backspace will take the stage, giving you one more reason to plan a last-minute trip out of Beijing if you have no prior arrangements (book your ticket for the gig here). The easiest way to get to Aranya is to hop on a train from Beijing Station to Changli Station (around RMB 40) and then take a taxi to Aranya Resort (阿那亚, approximately RMB 35).
Get fit with watermelons
This Saturday marks East Hotel's annual Watermelon Madness party, in which Heyrobics will guide attendees through a fun, rigorous, and sweat-inducing workout all centered around (you guessed it) watermelons. The fruity workout will climax in a watermelon eating competition and there will be half-price on beers, cocktails, and pizza so you can immediately undo all of your hard work.
Go for a relaxing swim
One of the best ways to deal with the stifling and steamy Beijing summer heat is to jump into the water, make a splash, and forgot about your worries. We've rounded up the best of Beijing's indoor and outside pools so if nothing else you can disguise the fact that you're sweating profusely.
Get a massage
When you're not in the pool, double up the pampering with a nice, long massage. Lucky for you, Beijing is packed with parlors that offer great massage services for reasonable prices. One of our personal favorites is Suhang Blind Massage (苏杭盲人按摩 sū háng mángrén ànmó) near Dongdaqiao, which although a little hard to find (it's tucked away inside a residential building) is cozy, clean, and run by welcoming staff. Most importantly, the visually impaired masseuses are experienced and professional. Services run the whole gamut, with hour-long massages for RMB 79 (book here) or RMB 38 for a cupping session (book here).
More in a mood for a gig? Browse this weekend's Beijing shows right here.
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