5 Things to Taste, Smell, Touch, Hear, and See This Weekend

Beijing can be overstimulating, to say the least. Let’s be real: Sometimes even our sixth sense gets a decent workout, the one where you know that stick of chuan'r will get you sick for the next two days (but you gobble it up anyway). With such a wide variety of events, restaurants, and gigs to attend, we suggest bathing each of your five senses into one, if not all, of the nourishing goings-on below.

Taste

Halloween festivities are upon us and you can finally seek redemption for last week's militarily monitored peace and quiet. After months of pizza spam, it should come as no surprise that the Beijinger loves pizza (a quote from daily office chit-chat: "Will there ever be a time in our lives when we will not have this much pizza?") You know what else we love? Dressing up. Whether you are dressing up as pizza or pizza is dressing up for Halloween, both will do. Get down and dirty with Pizza Hut's spooky black pie. With a cute spider and a mayonnaise web for it to call home, this treat works great for a potluck party or a "me, myself, and I" party, too. 

Smell

Some might argue it's more of a winter drink, but I dare to disagree. It's a beverage of all that is cold and the perception of cold is personal. Whether it's in a fancy glass at the after-dinner table or a travel mug for a walk around Houhai, mulled wine should be a stable companion of your cold-season outings. The best part? You can finally use that Great Wall wine that should probably only be used for cooking, but that, by adding some honey, cinnamon, and ginger, becomes a highly enjoyable drink! 

Touch

Pour me a glass of pumpkin ale in this sweater weather and call me basic, but I know I am not alone in this (the best proof being seven other people cheering for the same pile of leaves). While it's still there, get out and grab a handful of these yellow miracles of nature, or at least take a picture (after all, Beijing is ... not the prettiest in winter). Level it up with taking a few leaves home and drying them out between book pages. Insider's tip: a solid population of these dazzling autumnal wonders are scattered around the hutongs north of Gulou Dongdajie. 

Hear

All Directions Hip-Hop Party at Tango 3F
With everything in Beijing, from farmers markets to beer miles and – of course – the parties being Halloween-themed, where do I even start? There is a party and a music style for every taste, even those you didn't know existed. The ones who might have a harder time finding their niche this weekend are those who could not care less about Halloween and dressing up. Fear no more, because hip-hop is here for you. Tango 3F is throwing an all-Chinese-star party with some mean rhymes. They are bringing artists from different corners of China to meet for what they say will be "probably the best party of the year." Early bird tickets reportedly sold out within 24 hours, so make sure to get there early and claim a spot and hear some honest lines.

See

Sample checklist: Plaid woolen comforter, a hot beverage of choice (hint hint, the above-mentioned mulled wine), an air purifier (if you want your lungs messed up, it's more fun to roll up some tobacco), and anything spooky. Better yet, build a blanket fort because you can't get that in cinemas. What could be a better choice for that than a chilling love story from the insane genius Tim Burton? Spend a day recuperating from all the frightfully fun Halloween parties and throw one for yourself in-house with The Nightmare before Christmas. Playlists with the movie's songs can be found both on Spotify and QQ Music because there is no way you will not want to make your work commute a majestic adventure with these tunes for the next week. 

Images: Mary Kate White, Tautvile Daugelaite, Sip Certified, Style Noir, Mental Floss, courtesy of the organizers

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