Want to learn more about all the wonder that exists above our heads on an interactive journey to Mars? Or how about getting up close and personal with original artwork from legendary Japanese animators? These and more family-friendly offerings are now on display in Beijing’s creative spaces this July.

Lucy Sparrow’s Felt Art Imaginarium, until Oct 11

This summer, M WOODS presents 70 masterpieces recreated by Lucy Sparrow, one of the most exciting and innovative artists in the UK today. Each piece was hand-crafted from the annals of art history and covered the entirety of the museum in her signature, colorful felt. Having received worldwide attention for felt installations in London, New York, and Los Angeles, Lucy Sparrow’s Felt Art Imaginarium marks the artist’s debut in Asia, and creates an immersive installation commissioned specifically for this Beijing gallery.

RMB 80 (RMB 50 for students).Tue-Sun 10.30 am-7 pm. M Woods (D-06, 798 Art Zone, No. 2 Jiuxianqiao Road, Chaoyang District).

NBA Exhibition: Unstoppable Beijing, Jul 13 – Oct 13

Aimed at showcasing the excitement of the game and the rich history of the league, the NBA is launching its touring exhibition in Beijing. By using interactive exhibits, video, and exciting memorabilia, the multi-level experience will showcase the passion of the league, its teams and players, and will explore the many ways the NBA has evolved since its founding in 1946.

RMB 90 (Before Jul 12 early bird ticket: RMB 66 per person). 10 am – 8 pm. Yang Art Museum (3F, Building 14, Solana, 6 Chaoyang Gongyuan Lu, Chaoyang District).  (Go here for tickets and more information)

RMB 66-256 (May 8-Jun 20 early bird ticket: RMB 66 per person). Tue-Sun  9am-5pm. The China Millennium Monument. (Go here for tickets and more information).

Van Gogh Immersive Experience: Fantasy of the Inner World, Now-Sep 22 

Let’s be honest, it’s not always easy to get the kids excited about a trip to the museum. But, when you throw VR into the mix then you have another thing all together. From now until Sep 22, The National Museum of China is hosting this immersive VR exhibition, bringing to life some of the most famous works of famed Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh. The experience has more than 200 works by Van Gogh, reconstructed into a multi-sensory experience for new audiences.

RMB 55. 9am-5pm. The National Museum of China. (6512 8901, go here for tickets and more information). 

Anthony Browne’s Happy Museum, Now-Sep 22 

The exhibition displays 162 original paintings from renowned British writer and illustrator Anthony Browne, who is a winner of the Hans Christian Andersen Award, the highest international recognition given to creators of children’s books. Themed ‘happiness’, the exhibition shows how Browne portrays his characters with impeccable details and pencil strokes to truly bring them to life. The exhibition is filled with paintings and interactive activities that people of all ages can relate to. As Browne has said: “Picture books are for everybody at any age, not books to be left behind as we grow older.”

RMB 58. 10am-6pm. National Museum of Classic Books. (Click here for more information and tickets). 

Picasso – Birth of a Genius, Now-Sep 1

“Picasso – Birth of a Genius”—the most significant exhibition of work by Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) ever to take place in China—will be presented at UCCA between June 15 and September 1, 2019. The exhibition, which offers a comprehensive overview of the first three decades of Picasso’s career, is drawn from the collection of the Musée national Picasso-Paris. It includes 103 works in total, including paintings, sculptures, and works on paper.

RMB 138-188. 10am-7pm. UCCA. (Go here for more information or to buy tickets).

The Soften The Glow, Jun 29 – Jul 28

“The Soften the Glow” exhibition was created by the artist Shao Wenhuan, and displays his explorations of natural Swiss landmarks such as the Matterhorn and the Aletsch Glacier. By using mixed media, while remaining firmly rooted in photography, he is able to capture climate change on a deeper level.

RMB 60 (RMB 30 for students).Tue-Sun 10am-6 pm. Three Shadows Photography Art Centre (155A Caochangdi, Chaoyang District). (6432 2663, go here for tickets and more information)

Photos: courtesy of event organizers

For those of us who will be staying in Beijing for the National Holidays, let’s resist the urge to avoid the incoming/ tourist crowd by staying indoors the whole week.  Now this isn’t scientific, but I’m going to hypothesize that the movie theater will be less busy during the holidays, making it the optimal time for taking the kids!

So what’s playing?

Storks (逗鸟外传：萌宝满天飞)

PG. In the setting of Storks, storks have been delivering packages rather than babies for some time now. However, when a baby appears for delivery, a stork’s gotta do what a stork’s gotta do: deliver the baby.

Chibi Maruko-chan: The Boy from Italy (樱桃小丸子 来自意大利的少年)

Chibi Maruko-chan (ying tao xiao wan zi), a popular Japanese animation series set in suburban Japan in 1974, has been immensely popular in Asia since its release 25 years ago. Chibi Maruko-chan: The Boy from Italy is the third Chibi Maruko film, and its release date corresponds with its 25 year anniversary celebration.

Nine Lives (九条命)

In the only non-animated fiction movie in this list, Kevin Spacey plays a workaholic rich man who is disconnected from his family.  For his daughter’s birthday, which he had forgotten, he scrambles to buy a gift last minute and ends up at a mystical pet shop. He and Mr. Fuzzypants (the cat pictured) end up changing places, allowing him to learn about his family by posing as the new family pet.

Mcdull: The Rise of the Rice Cooker (麦兜·饭宝奇兵)

Mcdull (mak dau) is a Hongkonese animation series featuring Mcdull the pig, who, as the name suggests, isn’t very bright.  Yet, as an ordinary character, Mcdull has managed to be featured in seven films already. The latest, Mcdull: The Rise of the Rice Cooker, is about an alien invasion.

Ice Age: Collision Course (冰川时代5：星际碰撞)

PG. The fifth movie in the series, this time their ice age is threatened by cosmic disaster, once again set off by Scrat’s obsession for acorns.  The crew: Manny, Sid, Diego, and company, set off on another exciting trip to save the planet!

The Secret Life of Pets (爱宠大机密)

PG. A story not only about talking animals and the secret lives they lead, but also about change, class differences, and tolerance.  Max, a house dog in NYC feels threatened by the larger stray dog Duke, which his owner brings home one day.  As he dislikes him, they instantly get in trouble, and find themselves amongst other strays who plot revenge against humans. Will they be able to work together to stop the others?

New Happy Dad and Son 2: The Instant Genius (新大头儿子和小头爸爸2一 成才)

A sequel to New Happy Dad and Son movie, based on the popular Chinese animation series, this time Small-Head-Dad and Apron-Mom resort to relying on a stranger for help when Big-Head-Son doesn’t learn in class.  This series was originally released in 1995, but CCTV redesigned and reproduced it in 2013.

Godbeast Megazord: Return of Green Dragon (神兽金刚之青龙再现)

A sequel to the King Kong animation series, the gundams (robots) protect the earth from the Night Emperor’s curse. This time, the earth’s water resources are in danger. Will they be able to protect the earth from awakened behemoths?

Born in China (我们诞生在中国)

An educational nature film by Disney Nature, Born in China has viewers following the families of three endangered animal species: the Giant Panda (which is no longer endangered), the Snow Leopard, and the Golden Monkey.

New releases

I Am NeZha (我是哪吒) – Oct 1

Nezha is a protection deity in ancient Chinese folk religion, called the Third Lotus Prince, and this film is loosely based on the story, Investiture of the Gods (Fengshen Yanyi).

铠甲勇士捕王 – Oct 2

A futuristic, action-packed movie set in the year 2072. Army Commander Xu Zhan takes his troops back in time to the Qing and Qin Dynasties to fight the Yan God and rewrite human history!

The Ugly Duckling (疯狂丑小鸭) – Oct 3

In a world where the bird kingdom exists besides the human realm, the Ugly Duckling and his comrades travel to find the missing glazed bird and overthrow the Rosa Court to prevent war with the humans.

新东方神娃 – Oct 4

A story about good versus evil, follow along as the Millennium Goddess’ children, Dragon and Phoenix, journey to save both their mother and the planet earth.  As the lamp of light is drained by the demons, the Millennium Goddess retreats and separates from her children. The two must prove their love for their mother, eradicate the demons, and rekindle the lamp’s light in order to retrieve their mother and maintain peace on earth.

The Wild Life (Robinson Crusoe, 鲁滨逊漂流记) – Oct 4

Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe told from the perspective of the island’s inhabitants: the animals. A story about cooperation, team effort, and overcoming differences, The Wild Life is more about the animals of the deserted island wanting adventure than Robinson Crusoe’s plight. Watch as the animals overcome their animal-human language barrier and use Crusoe as a ticket off the island, and Crusoe rely on the animals for help to return home.

Note: Click on the link (Chinese name) for a list of theaters and their play times. Some older movies will be limited to fewer locations.

English (original) versions of movies are normally played later at night, so please note the language before buying tickets. Chinese movies will only be in Mandarin.