CRI听力:Weekly Guide to Beijing including World Cup Fixtures

Hello everyone and welcome to the arts and entertainment guide with me Alexander Aucott. I'll be bringing you a few ideas of the things you can do and see in the Chinese capital over the week ahead.

Coming up we have White Color boxing, folk music from around the world as well as Canada Day. But first a look at the big cinema releases in China over the next seven days.

The big Hollywood release in the week ahead is the fourth film in the Transformers franchise: "Age of Extinction".

The film takes place four years after the events of "Transformers: Dark of the Moon".

It sees a mechanic and his daughter discover a deactivated Optimus Prime. Meanwhile, a powerful, ingenious businessman and a group of scientists attempt to learn from past Transformer incursions and push the boundaries of technology beyond what they can control.

This film, like its predecessors, is directed by Michael Bay and has Steven Spielberg as executive producer. However it is the first in the series to feature an all new human cast and the first to show the Dinobots.

Mark Wahlberg leads the new cast which includes Kelsey Grammer, Stanley Tucci, Nicola Peltz, Li Bingbing and Han Geng. 

Now looking to Beijing itself. Starting with Sunday night, June 22 get over to the Hot Cat Club, where they are celebrating the last day of their third birthday celebrations.

This intimate hutong venue near Yonghegong will have live music from OCC, The Reason, Girl Kill Girl and Candy Monster. A nice way to ease you into your Monday morning.

This event is 100 kwai on the door and runs from 9 p.m. till late.

Address: 46 Fangjia Hutong, Yonghegong/Lama Temple, Dongcheng District

If you are planning to stay up to watch a bit of footie then Sunday night's games are two group H games. Belgium vs. Russia at midnight and then South Korea vs. Algeria at 3 a.m.

And then a little later there is the group G game: USA vs. Portugal at 6 on Monday morning, June 23.

There are venues dotted all over the city where you can catch those.

For Monday night once again I would suggest heading to Dada this week for their popular Beer Movie Monday night.

In partnership with the Slow Boat brewery, the month of June is all about films which celebrate the amber nectar.

This is free to enter, with free popcorn and with special deals on Slow Boat beers.

On Monday, June 23, they will be showing the '70s classic Smokey and the Bandit: starring Burt Reynolds.

The film shows the Bandit as he attempts to smuggle Coors beer east of the Texas border, but things get complicated when he picks up a hitchhiking runaway bride (Sally Field) and a local lawman Sheriff Buford T. Justice (Jackie Gleason) gets wind of the racket.

High-speed chases across the American South ensue. You can take to the comfy seats they'll have laid out for you for a 9 o'clock start.

They'll be showing the World Cup action in Dada itself after the screening too.

Address: 206 Gulou Dong Dajie (below Temple Bar), Dongcheng District

Moving on to Tuesday, June 24.

The first training session for the next white color boxing event is taking place at B Active Gym.

Participants must first sign up and donate a 2,100 kwai fee for the 12 weeks of intense training they are about to go through, before fight night on September 13.

According to the organizers, "White Collar Boxing has been the fastest growing corporate contact sport in the world. The contestants, many of whom work in leading companies, undergo rigorous training for up to three months before fight night. The best equipment, coaching and refereeing is provided to ensure the participants' safety so both can return to the office the next day to a hero's welcome."

All proceeds go towards The Foundation for Newborns with Respiratory Failure, with RMB 1,218,000 raised since the event began.

This could be an excellent start to any boys or girls who want to have a go at something new and will get you in excellent shape over the summer if you choose to do so.

Address: B Active Gym, Unit 161A&C, 1-2/f, Building, Chaowai Soho, 6 Chaoyangmenwai Dajie

On Wednesday, June 25 for a chilled out mid-week soiree I would suggest going to Salud where Beijing's own authentic Irish jiggers Black Water will be performing an array of traditional Irish tunes with their traditional Irish instruments.

A nice jolly evening as the background to a good nights drinking.

Address: 66 Nanluoguxiang, off Gulou Dong Dajie, Dongcheng District

Moving on to Friday, June 27, there is folk music from a very different part of the world at Modernista.

OuduO consisting of Hadi Eldebek and his brother Mohamad will be introducing China to traditional Lebanese music.

Hadi is an artist with Yoyo Ma's Silk Road Ensemble and a composing fellow at the Brooklyn Philharmonic.

The brothers will perform Hadi's own compositions, old classics from the Arab world, instrumental and vocal, and also teach the audience how to dance Dabke - the Lebanese traditional dance.

This is sure to be really good fun and it's free too, starting at 8 p.m.

Address: 44 Baochao Hutong, Dongcheng District

Now moving on to Saturday, June 28, there are a couple of things you can do.

Firstly it is Canada's 147th birthday on July 1 and so to celebrate the Canada China Business Council is hosting Beijing's biggest Canada Day celebration the Saturday before.

Starting from 3 p.m. at the Canadian International School of Beijing, Canadians, locals and many other foreigners will come together to celebrate.

There will be family fun activities, games, contests, entertainment, live music and prizes. There will also be a ball hockey tournament, some Canadian cuisine and more.

Advance tickets sell for 80 kwai or 100 on the door for adults and it's just 30 for children.

Later on that day I would suggest going to the newly revamped Four Corners where Tavey Lean and the Solid Gold Dream Machine will be performing from 9:30.

Just voted best local band in Beijing by City Weekend they are just about to say a sad farewell to long-term member Ben Wareham, who plays Trombone, Baratone Sax and Trumpet as he is moving back to the US.

So take advantage of Ben's last night as they play their own blend of funk, soul and a few old favorites.

Address: 27 Dashibei Hutong, (off Gulouxidajie), Xicheng District

Now for more information about the events going on in the Chinese capital, I got on the line with Paul Ryding, the nightlife editor from The Beijinger.

Paul Ryding's Picks:

- (Wednesday, June 25) The Brewers Table - Beer tasting and dining @ The Big Smoke - 1/F, Lee World Building (near Frost Nails), 57 Xingfucun Zhong Lu, Chaoyang District

- (Friday, June 27) CSS - Electroclash and dance-punk from Brazilian rock foursome @ Tango 3F - 79 Hepingli Xijie,  Dongcheng District

- (Saturday, June 28) Akon concert @ MasterCard Center/Wukesong Arena - 12 Xicui Road

That's all for another week, thank you very much for listening.

I'll be back at the same time next week with a few more choices. See you then.