Beijing

Drink and do good, too

The Bookworm bookstore hosts a "public-interest happy hour" on the last Tuesday of each month. Whether you work for or volunteer with an NGO, embassy, newspaper, school or hospital, or just want to hang out with those who do, come for an enjoyable evening of conversation with no speeches and no distributions. Fruitful projects and connections may be stimulated by a little alcohol.

7 pm, July 29. The Bookworm, Building 4, Nan Sanlitun Lu (Road), Chaoyang district. 010-6586-9507.

Frisbee fun

The eight-week summer league of Ultimate Frisbee is underway, but it's not too late to sign-up for the second half of the season, which will set you back just 150 yuan ($24). The games are held on Saturday mornings at Beijing Normal University. There are also pickup games on Wednesday nights at Deshengmen. The group welcomes players of every skill level, including first-timers who want to give it a try. Rumor has it there is a huge party at the end of the summer league.

11 am-1 pm, Saturdays. Beijing Normal University soccer fields, 19 Xinjiekou Wai Dajie (Street), Haidian district. www.beijingultimate.com.

Helping kids in Africa

A joint charity initiative between The River of Grace Church and the Liberian embassy in Beijing, To Africa With Love, teams up with local businesses and community members to fight poverty and raise funds to provide access to clean water and food for children in Liberia.

182-1004-5291. www.toafricawithlove.net.

Joys of choral

The members of the International Festival Chorus, a professional community group, come from more than 20 countries and organize regular performances. Admission is by audition. There's also a chorus for kids aged 7-12 at any level.

www.beijingifc.org

Harvest time

Find out how to make all-natural fruit vinegars, liqueurs and other tasty treats as part of a day trip to Mutianyu's Great Wall. The Schoolhouse Orchard hosts a free tour and tasting every weekend, and you can purchase bottles of various flavors to take home for your own recipes.

11 am, Saturdays and Sundays. Schoolhouse Orchard. 010-6162-6506. www.theschoolhouseatmutianyu.com.

Kung fu classes

The Milun school specializes in traditional kung fu, from Shaolin style to Zhang Sing Yi, which was created by the school's master. Classes are held both in Ritan Park and Wangfujing Courtyard.

158-1070-8207. www.kungfuinchina.com.

- Mike Peters

Shanghai

The Godfather

Feast on sumptuous Italian cuisine, network with like-minded people and give to a good cause at the same time by attending this buffet dinner hosted by Bacco and the Shanghai International Ladies Club. All proceeds go to charity. The dress code is as you would expect from a night themed on one of the most famous gangster movies of all time. Pre-sale tickets cost 250 yuan or 300 yuan on the door.

7 pm until midnight, July 26. Bacco, 374-6 Dagu Road, near Chengdu North Road. 021-6340-1386.

Jiang Pengyi

Center stage at this solo exhibition are a number of works taken from three series created by the award-winning contemporary artist since 2012. Jiang makes striking use of a range of materials from the routine (photography) to the bizarre (fireflies) to breathe life into his often abstract and jarring art.

10 am-6 pm, until July 31. ShanghART H-Space, Moganshan Gallery, Bldg 18, 50 Moganshan Road, near West Suzhou Road, Putuo district. 021-6276-2818.

Stephan Bodzin

The German techno DJ and label owner is bringing his firebrand style of electronic music to Arkham in what promises to be a memorable event. He started off composing music for European theaters before getting into techno eight years ago. He has since remixed the likes of Depeche Mode.

10 pm, Aug 2. Arkham, 1 Wulumuqi Road, Xuhui district. 1370-197-2878.

- Matt Hodges

(China Daily 07/20/2014 page5)