Get Connected: Follow The Beijinger on WeChat!
If you use WeChat (or Weixin, if that's what you call it), Tencent's hugely popular chat app, you'll be happy to learn we recently launched the Beijinger's very own official account. So what do we plan to do with WeChat? We'll tell you in a minute. First, you know what to do with that QR code (if you're using WeChat already, the QR code scan function is built into the "add contacts" page). Scan it now and join our WeChat community.
So now you're on board. Welcome. Now a little about what we have planned.
Our main offering for now will be a weekly roundup of events and venue recommendations – a micro-companion to our 7 Days in Beijing newsletter – highlighting only the very best things to do in Beijing over the week ahead, as selected by the Beijinger's editors. We'll be limiting this to a few essential events, providing the necessary information (prices, times etc) and a link back to a fuller description on TheBeijinger.com.
Some of you are already following us and will have received the debut edition, sent out on May 22, but if you didn't, here's a sample of what the content looks like.
What's On In Beijing?
INTRO Electronic Music Festival, May 25
No big international names this year, but crowd-pleasing visitors like Digital 21 and Slide, and top China-based DJs including Mickey Zhang, Weng Weng, Yang Bing, Conrank, Blackie and Oshi make the fifth INTRO a must for electronic fans. Even if you're not into the music, checking out the Capital Steel Factory and spending a day in the sun (hopefully) is a good reason to make the trip out west. RMB 300. 2pm-midnight. Capital Steel Factory
UEFA Champions League Final, May 25
Bayern Munich of Germany take on Borussia Dortmund - also of Germany - in the biggest game in European club football. The game kicks off at 2.45am in the early hours of Sunday morning (Beijing time), but bars around town will have all the buildup throughout Saturday night. Various bars will be showing the game, including Paddy O' Shea's,
The Den
, Black Sun,
CuJu,
Centro and
Drei Kronen 1308. Some of the above will be offering food and drinks specials: For full details of their deals, click this link.
The Dodos, May 26
This San Franciscan duo present "a softer sort of experimental pop than, say, their wilder compatriots Thee Oh Sees or Sic Alps." If you like a singing drummer, get along to this show. RMB 60, RMB 40 (students). 8.30pm. Yugong Yishan
So that's that. Simple.I'd suggest signing up and experiencing our weekly roundup for yourself before jumping to any conclusions, but if you have any thoughts, add them in the comments box or email iainshaw@truerun.com.
Besides this weekly mini-newsletter, we'll also use WeChat to send out alerts if there's any news we think you urgently need to know about. This could cover a huge range of subjects, from last-minute deals to event cancellations, so I won't speculate too much here.
Of course, half the point of a chat app is you and your ability to engage with us. So use the Beijinger's WeChat to send us messages, comments and questions, and we'll do our best to reply as quickly as possible. If you need a recommendation or a specific piece of information, why not shoot us a message and see if we can help? We can't promise immediate responses, but we will try.
Once again, we're open to ideas, so feel free to email any suggestions you have for how we can best serve you via WeChat.
First, of course, you'll need to get connected, so scan that QR code now!
