In the stillness of winter, let's break free from boredom together! Seek out "good things" that bring endless joy—trendy new plays to make you laugh, immersive scenic wonders to dazzle your eyes, and a variety of gourmet treats to awaken your taste buds. Experience happiness that warms your heart and delights your palate. Chaoyang awaits—let's go!
Hidden Gem Travel Destinations
Hua Hua Land
At Mahua Fun Age's new performance space, "Hua Hua Land", step into the theater, dive into the storyline, and transform into a character. Satisfy your passion for drama like never before!
Step into "Hua Hua Land", and it feels like entering a theatrical town. Simply walking into this new performance space marks the beginning of the show. As you enter the A66 environmental theater, the setting transports you to 1930s Shanghai. Moon gates, red velvet curtains, vintage lights, and old-fashioned telephones evoke the charm and elegance of the iconic Paramount of old Shanghai.
As the performance unfolds, audience members are randomly chosen to play "guest roles" that advance the storyline, with absurd humor delivering constant laughs. The experience is enriched with magic, singing, dancing, and thoughtfully prepared meals and costume accessories, creating an immersive retro banquet.
Here, the boundaries between stage and audience vanish. It doesn't feel like you're simply watching a show—it feels like attending a grand feast. And yes, there's real food and drinks to enjoy!
Just a short walk down the theater district, you'll find Stage One Music & Theater Bar. This venue features two distinct levels: the upper floor boasts a 1,000-square-meter city-view terrace bar, already hailed as one of Beijing's most stunning rooftop destinations. The lower floor, covering nearly 400 square meters, houses an indoor music and theater performance space. Its sleek, irregularly shaped stage weaves through cozy booths, allowing audiences to enjoy performances up close and personal.
Address: "Hua Hua Land", Garry Culture Center, Wangjing, Chaoyang, Beijing
798 Art District
Art and technology are infusing new vitality and influence into intangible cultural heritage.
Recently, the "Wukong Realm: Immersive Art Ecological Experiment Exhibition" opened at the Museum of Immersive Art Collection. Centered around the theme of "Wukong Realm," the exhibition cleverly integrates cutting-edge technologies such as sound, light, and electricity, using all five senses to breathe new life and vitality into intangible cultural heritage, offering visitors an unprecedented audio-visual feast.
The exhibition is divided into five distinct thematic sections. Here, visitors can enjoy stunning light displays and the mist-filled "Sacred Tree Space", listen to the rumble of thunder and the tremor of the forest, sit cross-legged on meditation cushions, and immerse themselves in contemplation of nature and humanity. The experience also includes witnessing the lighting of a beacon that transcends time and space, as well as using a digital check-in device to print a "Canal-exclusive signature".
As night falls and the streetlights illuminate, a "mapping show" lights up the viewers' sightlines. The white spire church across from the museum transforms into a series of world-renowned paintings, becoming a mesmerizing and dreamy scene enhanced by the interplay of light and shadow. It's a perfect spot for stunning photos and check-ins.
Address: Slow Life District, Wanhong Lu (Rd), Chaoyang, Beijing
China National Film Museum
The China National Film Museum is currently the largest national film museum in the world and serves as a landmark building marking the 100th anniversary of Chinese cinema.
The museum's central circular hall has become a popular check-in spot. The central circular curved screen uses digital technology to display a variety of stunning artistic effects, such as a mysterious and vast starry sky, a colorful underwater world, and a picturesque natural landscape. Immersed in these scenes, it feels like embarking on a time-and-space journey that breaks through the boundaries of dimensions.
The permanent exhibition "A Century of Journey, A Century of Glory" at the China National Film Museum is a large-scale, panoramic, and systematic display of the history of Chinese cinema and film production techniques. With its diverse collection and meticulously crafted layout, the exhibition showcases the infinite possibilities of cinematic art, making it a truly "living encyclopedia of film."
Address: No. 9 Nanying Lu (Rd), Chaoyang, Beijing
Markor Cave
Appreciate art, talk design, and savor life—see you at "Markor Cave"!
Markor Cave, once named "Beijing's Top Check-in Spot of 2021," feels like a tunnel through time, connecting the past and the future. The design is inspired by primitive caves. Here, you can experience the intertwining of time and space, the fusion of art and life, making it feel as though you've stepped into a serene paradise, far from the hustle and bustle of the world.
Markor Cave offers a diverse range of functions, including cave-inspired art (home furnishings), fashion dining (afternoon tea, bar, themed restaurants), and cultural leisure (book bar, art and cultural creations). It provides consumers with an exceptional living experience and a "five-sense" artistic experience of home culture.
Address: No. 99 CHAOYANGMEN Outer Ave, Chaoyang, Beijing
Foods21st District BLOCK, Chaoyang Hopson One
Not sure what to eat? This is the place to be!
The "21st District BLOCK" food street, known as the "ceiling of food streets," is located on the B1 and B2 floors of Hopson One, covering an area of about 20,000 square meters with around 200 merchants. It features spacious dine-in restaurants as well as a variety of specialty food stalls.
Recently, the little trees near Hopson One have quietly started wearing sweaters, and their soft, fluffy texture adds a perfect touch of cuteness to the atmosphere!
Address: No. 22, Xidawang Lu (Rd), Chaoyang, Beijing
Wangjing Walk
Dining at a famous filming location—such a great vibe!
Wangjing Walk gathers high-quality delicacies from across the country and around the world. With romantic and cozy black pearl restaurants, uniquely flavored fusion cuisine, "Guochao" pastry shops, and more, it's a perfect place to "shop and eat." There's sure to be a spot that suits you.
Wangjing Walk is also a popular filming location in Beijing, with a high "screen time" in urban dramas. Many hit TV shows have been filmed here.
Address: WEWORK, Wangjing Walk Chaoyang, Beijing
Chaoyang Gourmet Sightseeing Bus
A flowing visual feast + star-quality deliciousness—this experience is absolutely amazing!
The Chaoyang Gourmet Sightseeing Bus is Beijing's first mobile restaurant where cooking can be done onboard. Diners can enjoy exquisite dishes like slow-roasted Angus beef ribeye and extra-thick crispy bacon, along with craft brews, all catering to high-quality taste buds.
The Chaoyang Gourmet Sightseeing Bus in Beijing features 24 comfortable seats on the second floor, all by the windows to ensure the best viewing experience. The panoramic glass roof and large windows on all sides offer a 360° view. As the vehicle moves, the vibrant nightscape unfolds, allowing passengers to enjoy iconic Chaoyang landmarks such as the bustling CBD, the dreamy Liangma River, the Bird's Nest, Water Cube, and the Olympic Tower, all in their dazzling nighttime glory.
Departure and drop-off point: China Central Place (Wolfgang's Steakhouse)
Accommodations
A.C. Embassy .otel
Can you believe there's a palace-like art gallery inside the hotel?
The A.C. Embassy Hotel, located in the heart of the Second Embassy District in Beijing, faces the Australian and Canadian embassies. It is hailed as a "creative hotel, home of art," "a living art gallery," and "an art fair that never closes."
Located on the underground second floor of the hotel, the A.C. Art Museum resembles a European palace. Here, visitors can appreciate a variety of domestic and international artworks, including pieces featuring hard stone inlays. The museum offers diverse exhibitions, covering contemporary ink art, oil paintings, sculptures, and more. Stepping inside feels like entering a captivating European classical castle—elegant and vintage.
Address: No.26 DONGZHIMEN Outer St, Chaoyang, Beijing
798 Zhotel
A chain of artistic hotels near the 798 Art Dist.
Zhotel is a new lifestyle brand created by Atour Group, blending music styles into room designs. Guests can choose from six different room styles inspired by Jazz, Classic, Rock, Duo, Punk, and Blues.
The hotel blends Eastern and Western youth cultures, bringing together the power of China's Generation Z with curiosity, creativity, and open-mindedness. With 200 vinyl records, studio-style dazzling light showers, robot delivery service, and a variety of community activities, Zhotel offers a truly unique experience.
Address: No. 13 Jiuxianqiao Lu (Rd) Chaoyang, Beijing
Even though winter may be chilly, Beijing's endless wonders continue to bloom, offering excitement and joy. This weekend, don't stay cooped up at home—go out and discover the happiness that awaits you!
Some images are sourced from: WeChat Official Accounts of Museum of Immersive Art Collection, Chaoyang Beijing, Chaoyang District Culture And Tourism Bureau, and Markor Cave, Xiaohongshu @茜茜、鱼摊儿主、V_C、再多吃两口、卡卡西、小绣球、栖七、吸个面面、北京朝阳合生汇
Translator: BAI Jing
Reviewer: FENG Haoxuan
