Holiday Primer: Golden Week Happenings & Deals

National Holiday officially starts tomorrow, and we’ve already gone into holiday mode making plans for the rest of the week. Consider this list a plan of sorts, or the means of making your own plans, as it features events that’ll be going on all week long plus one-time events to consider signing up for right away.

A former coal storage and transportation section of the former 751 factory area has been transformed, with passenger rail cars refitted and redesigned to feature art exhibitions, a vintage clothing shop, a hot dog stand and more, some of which are running beyond the holiday. Check out their events schedule below.

Car No.13

Car No. 2

Car No. 5

Car No. 14

798·751 Community Train Street 798·751火车街区

FilmNeverDie is popularizing film photography with their regular photowalks – think of it as a walking tour during which you snap photos – with one happening on Oct 5, kicking off from 2pm at the collective’s new Dongsi shop and film development studio. Signup is RMB 5 and limited to ten spots, and you can get in touch with FilmNeverDie via WeChat (ID: FND_lab).

FilmNeverDie

The NEED! FLEA Market returns to Longfusi for the holiday with over 180 vendors from 35 cities from across China selling vintage clothes, second-hand items, and other creative concepts. There will also be live DJs with music all through the event, with an afterparty taking place at Beijing Solo on Oct 7. Tickets are RMB 39 per person. Check this post for ticket purchase and more info.

Beijing Longfusi 大隆福寺

The following food deals are only happening this week or through the month of October. Many other locations with weekly specials will remain open throughout the break. Check the list below (courtesy of the Foodies in Beijing group) or call ahead to your favorite restaurant and ask.

Slowboat kicks off Oktoberfest tomorrow in a big way, with deals on Bavarian-style pretzels, beer sausages, and one-liter steins filled with the brewery’s Drink Like a Fish Pilsner. All through the month of October starting Oct 1, guests will get a complimentary pretzel when they order a stein of pilsner, can add on a sausage to their pilsner order for just RMB 15 on Tuesdays, or can get a stein for RMB 55 (RMB 45 for crew members) all week long from 1pm to 7pm.

More deals and specials await throughout the holiday, as well as chances to win spectacular prizes throughout the month. Check this post here for more details. This event is happening at all Slowboat locations.

QMex is putting the taco into October break – Oc-taco-ber break, if you will – with half price on all tacos throughout the holiday. What’s more, even though QMex Taqueria recently closed, that doesn’t mean their food is gone too: QMex is now offering a few fan favorites (plus drinks) from the newest Taqueria menu at their locations. These include the Birria Tacos, Chili Shrimp Tacos, and Wet Burritos, with Coconut Margs, Micheladas, and Agavales tequilas also making an appearance.

Available from Oct 1 to Oct 6, Café Zarah welcomes guests to make the most of the holiday with friends and family with some special drink and food deals. Gin and tonics, draft beers, and Aperol and Hugo spritzes are all RMB 45 all day long. Plus, buy any bottle of wine and you can enjoy free bruschetta with your purchase. Also, be sure not to miss Zarah's holiday brunch on Oct 6. More details on that here. 

Café Zarah

Morton’s has unveiled a new limited-time set menu for the month of October, and it's all centered around one massive tomahawk steak – essentially a bone-in, thick rib eye, a cut prized for its tender texture and high fat content, which lends the steak its rich, juicy flavor. All of this comes in one set meal for two. See the menu below for details. 

Morton's The Steakhouse Beijing

Beersmith will be open throughout the holiday, however from Oct 1-3 their hours will be adjusted to 2pm-2am, they will then return to normal hours (11am-late) from Oct 4. From Oct 1-3 they will also be extending happy hour from 2pm to 9pm, with BOGO on all beers. They’ll return to their normal happy hour schedule of 3.30pm-7.30pm from Oct 4.

Their brunch menu will be available throughout the holiday as well, coupled with a holiday free flow deal in which beer, wine, and sparkling wine is available free-flow for RMB 188 per person at set times (see poster above for details). Check this post here for more details and happenings.

Beersmith Gastropub 鲜啤吧

Don't see your favorite restaurant listed? Be sure to give them a call before or during the holiday to check their hours, or add Ajit (QR code below) and ask to be added into the Foodies in Beijing group.