Who's Who (So Far) at Culturopolis
Culturopolis is opening its doors Jan 31-Feb 1 as a new meeting place for the city's international community. As this inaugural edition comes together, there's still time to get involved and help shape what this platform becomes (see below for vendor signup info). The event is built around four core pillars, each designed to bring people together in practical, creative, and unexpected ways.
Attendance is free with advanced registration
Food Without Borders
At the heart of Culturopolis is what we do best: food. This time, the focus has shifted. Rather than familiar categories like burgers or pizza, the festival features an exclusively international lineup, with just one dedicated booth per cuisine to encourage discovery and range. The result is a culinary passport spanning more than a dozen global categories.
You might start with Turkish mezze at Sultan, move on to Brazilian churrasco at Latina, then find yourself deep in West African flavors at Tribe Garden or sampling Kazakh specialties from NAVAT. The circuit continues through MORROW tacos, SUSU pho, Thai street food, Pakistani dishes, Indian curries, German bites, Korean classics, and Beijing-style cumin lamb, each stop offering a clear, singular take on its region. Desserts, coffee, non-alcoholic drinks, wine, and craft beer round out the experience — and yes, we'll even have Girl Scout Cookies on hand.
Everyday Essentials, Face to Face
Beyond the food, Culturopolis grounds itself in something practical. Meet the teams behind major healthcare providers including Oasis International Hospital, Beijing United Family Hospital, and Raffles Hospital Beijing, with opportunities for face-to-face consultations, free screenings, and on-site advice. Talk through everyday realities with specialists like IQAir for air filtration and HSBC for banking and financial services.
For families, leading international schools such as Yew Chung International School of Beijing, Canadian International School of Beijing, and The British School of Beijing will be on site and open for conversation, alongside student showcases, hands-on activities, and live demonstrations.
The Community Stage
The Culturopolis Community Stage adds a steady rhythm to the weekend, anchored by our second International School Battle of the Bands, showcasing talented young musicians from more than a dozen schools. Alongside the headline performances, the stage will host interactive activities, student bands, drama performances, workshops, and a range of community-led programming throughout the weekend, creating space for participation as well as applause.
A Market of Makers
Rounding out the experience is a sprawling market of 60 tables dedicated to creative commerce. Discover contemporary art from Songzhuang, sport and subculture from Forbidden City FC and Huddler Discgolf, craftsmanship from Make Me leather, and kitchen textiles from The Hutong.
The market also brings together ceramics, jewelry, woodwork, textiles, candles, pet products, vintage toys, handmade robots, football culture, and cultural crafts from China and beyond. It's a lively maze where crystal jewelry sits alongside alpaca wool, cork design, and hand-thrown pottery — a combination that somehow feels exactly like Beijing.
Looking Ahead
We see this inaugural edition as the beginning of a new tradition for the city: a crossroads for community, flavor, and culture. If your organization would like to be part of it, contact WeChat ID: TBJButler to get involved.
Culturopolis: The International Lifestyle Expo will be taking place at Langyuan Station's Central Station from Jan 31 to Feb 1. Entry to Culturopolis is free with advanced registration. You can sign up now by scanning the QR code in the poster above.
Langyuan Station Central Station 郎园Station 中央车站
53 Banjieta Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区半截塔路53号
READ: The Big "Why" Behind Our International Lifestyle Expo
Images: the Beijingers
