Beijing Watchdog: Elusive Train Tickets, a Legend’s End and More

Beijing Watchdog: Elusive Train Tickets, a Legend’s End and More

It's that crazy time of year again when everyone and their mother is trying to get a train ticket back home. The lines are long and actually getting the ticket you want could be considered a small miracle. But those lines are relatively calm compared to the pandemonium over the new iPhone 4S. But don't worry; if you need to get away from it all there are plenty of movies and parties coming up in Beijing.

Notable News:

1) You can buy train tickets online...well not really!
This year there have been a few big changes in an effort to make buying train tickets an easier process. First there is the real-name ticket system in an effort to cut out scalpers. It is a bit of a pain in the butt to carry your ID or passport everywhere just to buy a train ticket, but if it cuts out the ticket vultures then maybe it is worth it. The second change has been awaited for years: online ticket purchasing. The prospect of jumping online to get a ticket rather than waiting in a line for five hours sounds heavenly. Sadly the online booking service rolled out on December 21st has been more like the torments of hell. Many customers have bought tickets online or through the phone only later to find that their tickets were not available. They quickly jumped back online and started venting their anger, while railway authorities scrambled to find out just how things had turned into such a mess. Don't you just love travelling during Chinese New year?

2) Gotta have the new iPhone
Like we mentioned above, train tickets aren't the only thing Chinese will be waiting in line for this holiday season. On Friday the 13th Apple lunches the iPhone 4S in China. Scalpers have promised to mob the stores, fights are bound to break out, and a lucky few will actually get a phone. It makes buying a train ticket look like child's play. So if you are looking for a spectacle then get out to one of the two Apple stores in Beijing and watch the madness unfold.

Events:

1) Wasabi Sound 2nd anniversary party
Two years ago in January of 2010, the DJs of Wasabi Sound held their first bash at the Lantern Club, so it's only fitting two years on for them to kick off their 2nd anniversary party at the same place. Be sure to make your way on over to the Lantern Club on January 13th to groove to the beats of Wasabi Sound. The party starts at 21:00 and tickets are 50 RMB in advance or 60 RMB at the door.

Don't worry if you can't make it out on the 13th because on the 14th Lantern will continue their 2nd anniversary bash at the Mo Lounge starting at 21:00, but this time the festivities are free, so don't miss out.

2) Future Shorts Festival
If short, artsy movies are your type of thing then head on over to the Ullen Center of Contemporary Art in the 798 art district on January 14th for a series of award-winning short movies from around the world. The screening will feature Oscar-winner God of Love, the BAFTA winning The Eagleman Stag and the Sundance-winner Deeper than Yesterday. The regular ticket price is 15 RMB per film, students with IDs will pay 10 RMB and all screenings are free for UCCA members. Screenings start at 14:00.

3) Hollywood blockbusters this January!
Traditionally the Chinese New Year season is a time for a whole slew of Chinese movies. Luckily for Beijing's foreign residents there are also two decent Hollywood films in the mix. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, the second film in Guy Richie's re-imagining of the classic English sleuth, opens on January 15th.  Then on January 28th the latest edition of Mission Impossible, Mission: Impossible—Ghost Protocol opens staring Tom Cruise as a super spy. If you need a bit of cinematic relaxation, head off to the nearest cinema and enjoy.

Openings/Closings:

1) Goodbye D-22
Every since 2006, Haidian rock venue D-22 has been nurturing a whole generation of Chinese youth rock. That will sadly all come to an end on January 13th when Mongolian punk rockers Mohanik play the last show at D-22. Some say that the space D-22 occupies is scheduled for destruction later this year, others say attendance was down. Either way Wudaokou's best live music venue is calling it quits. But for those that liked D-22 there is some light at the end of the tunnel, as its owners are thinking about reopening at a different location later this year.


Photo: guardian.co.uk

2) Great Leap closed for the winter
In case you haven't heard, everyone's favourite Nanlouguxiang brew bar Great Leap has announced that it will be closing down for the winter. But don't worry it is not a permanent move! Apparently the brew masters had some trouble with their documentation and licenses and are taking the time off to make sure everything is in proper order.

3) First British style gastropub
Gastropubs are all the rage today, because what goes better than food and beer? Now Beijingers can treat their taste buds to the food and brews of British style gastropub The Vineleaf located in the Jianchang Hutong in Dongcheng District. So if you want some great fish-n-chips and some rare British brews you know where to look. 

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Keywords: Beijing watchdog iPhone 4S in Beijing D-22 buying train tickets Beer in Beijing

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