Shanghai Soccer derby

Shanghai Shenxin was scheduled to play Shanghai East Asia in what is sure to be a fiery cross-town derby marking the early days of the 2014 China Super League season. Shenxin goes in as the underdog. Tickets cost 50 yuan ($8) and can be purchased at the stadium.

March 16. Shanghai Stadium, 666 Tianyao-qiao Lu (Road), near Lingling Road, Xuhui district. 021-6426-5178.

Secrets of Yu Garden

American Tracey Lesh will take you past the market stalls and food vendors to explain the ancient philosophy relating to the Buddhist and Taoist temples at this cultural hot spot. She will also talk about some of the herbs at a traditional Chinese medicine pharmacy as you wind through a maze of alleyways and discover more about disappearing ways of life. The tour is due to be repeated on May 6. The meeting point is 29 Chenxiangge Road.

10:30 am-12:30 pm, March 18. Community Center Shanghai in Pudong. 021-3382-1770.

Ferry Corsten at MYST

Ferry Corsten, also known as System F, is coming to one of the biggest clubs in town this week. Formerly one of the world's most in-demand electronic music DJs, the veteran spinner and producer of global hit tracks such as Out of the Blue ranked seventh on DJ Magazine's annual Top 100 DJ Poll in 2009. Tickets to hear the Dutchman's enticing brand of electro-trance are available at Damai.cn and Smartshanghai.com for a pre-sale price of 150 yuan ($24), including one drink.

10:30 pm-2:30 am, March 21. Club MYST, 1123 Yanan Middle Road, Jingan. 021-6437-9999. E-mail: sally_he@sino-group.cn.

- Matt Hodges

Hong Kong

Affordable art fair

More than 100 galleries will be exhibiting works from more than 1,000 artists from all over the world. This year's fair features much more in the way of interactive activities. Prices range from HK$1,000 to more than HK$100,000 ($129-12,900) with a specially curated HK$10,000 wall.

Various times, March 21-23. HK$70-180. Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center. Affordableartfair.com/hongkong.

Repulse Bay Beach 5s

Hong Kong's Beach 5s returns for its fourth consecutive year this week. The weekend beach party featuring beach rugby, dodgeball and netball is family-friendly and admission is free.

9 am-7 pm, March 22-23. Repulse Bay Beach. 852-2832-2914. Hkbeach5s.com.

Mini Francophone Festival

This free miniature film festival screening at the Fringe Club revolves around the commemoration of International Francophonie Day on March 22. Screenings of the Canadian documentary Being Chinese in Quebec! A Road Movie will show on March 18 and the festival finishes with Bernard Bovet's Swiss production Faces, Places, Shadows and Memories.

7:30 pm, March 18-25. Frince Club, 2 Lower Albert Road, Central. 852-2525-1032.

Alliancefrancaise.org.hk.

- Timo Chui

Beijing

Creative writing workshop

The Latin American and Caribbean Center will launch a two-month Spanish language creative writing workshop on Saturdays beginning March 22. Tailored for native Spanish speakers and advanced-level Spanish students who would like to improve their writing, Argentinean instructor Guillermo Bravo will use new resources and explore works of writers such as Osvaldo Lamborghini and Cervantes.

10 am-noon, Saturdays from March 22, 100 yuan ($16) per class. The Latin American and Caribbean Center, 8 Gongti Lu (Road), Sanlitun Soho, level B1.

Leaving China with pets

Learn everything you need to know to bring your furry friend home, including new international regulations.

11 am-noon, March 22. International Center for Veterinary Services, 13-16 Rong Ke Gan Lan Cheng Shang Jie, Futong Xi Dajie (Avenue), Wangjing, Chaoyang district.

RSVP by March 21 at 010-8456-1939 or ICVSASIA.com.

Best fingers forward

Beijing International Bilingual Academy has partnered with the International Piano Academy of China to teach piano to children between the ages of 4 and 18 on the BIBA campus. The international school's overall curriculum is based on US standards with elements of the Chinese National Curriculum.

5 Yumin Lu (Road), Houshaya, Shunyi district. www.bibachina.org. 010-8041-0390.

- Mike Peters

(China Daily 03/16/2014 page5)