Beijing News You Might Have Missed this Week, Jun 19

Beijing is a happening city! Don't miss a thing with our weekend roundup of the latest news.


Taikooli West hangs its sign: By the end of the year, the old Yashow shopping center will have been fully converted into “Taikooli West.” Finally, we’ve gotten a glimpse of the final product as the mall hung up its sign last week.

Soi Boachao calls for help: A Hutong favorite, live music bar Soi Baochao is reaching out to its fans for crowdsourced aid after being slapped with a violation following a neighbor’s noise complaint. The fine amounted to RMB 50,000 and they’re hoping that donors can help out by scanning the payment QR codes in this article.

Digital museum opening: Building off of China’s multi-trillion RMB ultra-HD video industry, plans for an ambitious new “digital museum” were announced this week. According to Xinhua News, the museum will utilize giant 8K ultra-HD displays to take visitors high above Beijing, beneath Van Gough’s Starry Night as he would have seen it, among other celebrations of international heritage.

Look mom, no hands: Inspired by a Google April Fool’s prank from 2016, a popular Beijing-based Bilibili vlogger managed to create a real, working self-driving bicycle. Able to balance itself in place as well as in motion with ease, the bike is even capable of avoiding obsticals and navigating hallways and roads. Check out the original video on his Bilibili account 稚晖君 (Zhì huījūn).

Best of the blog

  • Sanlitun openings are, once again, popping off. Check out the newest bars, tacos, and non-alcoholic beverages in this week's New in the Neighborhood.
  • Need to find calm? You might consider a sensory deprivation tank. But be warned, it may not be as easy an experience as it sounds.
  • Film buffs should know: movies classic and new are hitting the Mainland for the first time.
  • Need a new Douyin follow? Check out this “foxy" biologist.

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Images: Joey Knotts, Bilibili