Beijing brews up craft beer carnival for May Day break

Shougang Park, in the heart of the capital’s western Shijingshan district, will host the second annual Beijing Craft Beer Festival during the May Day holiday.

With a lineup of more than 500 varieties from more than 100 breweries, this year’s festival is expected to be a haven for beer enthusiasts and food lovers alike.

Last year’s inaugural festival drew over 20,000 visitors, transforming the former industrial park into a bustling hub of merriment, according to the city’s commerce bureau.

Li Wei, director of the Beijing International Economic and Trade Development Association’s beer distribution committee, said the consumption of craft beer in Beijing surpassed that of Tokyo in 2018, making it the biggest city for craft beer in Asia.

“By looking at things like the number of craft beer brands, the amount of specialized craft beer places, the number of brewmasters and the total amount of craft beer consumed, we can confidently say that Beijing is definitely the craft beer capital of Asia,” Li said.

To further bolster Beijing’s reputation as an international capital of gastronomy and Asia’s craft beer leader, this year’s event will also feature over 30 trendy Beijing eateries, as well as music, entertainment and interactive experiences.

The event will be held at the 14th Pavilion in Shougang Park from May 1 to 4, between 11:00 am and 9:00 pm. Tickets can be purchased through the Beijing Craft Beer Festival’s official WeChat account.

Yang Xin, a designer in Beijing in her 30s, has already bought early bird tickets for the event. She said she cannot wait to spend the holiday with family and friends, drinking beer and enjoying music.

“I participated in last year’s beer festival, which was great,” Yang said. “Chinese people, especially young ones, are drinking more craft beer nowadays instead of just a few widely known brands in the past. It’s a trend that there are more choices of craft beer in the market now.”

This year’s festival will include top domestic breweries such as Peiping Machine, Mahanie Brewing and Fever, alongside approximately 20 renowned international brands, including Belgium’s Cantillon and Goose Island from the United States.

The festival will be divided into three major sections based on regional distinctions, allowing attendees and beer aficionados to vote for the year’s hottest brands and the most popular craft beers across various styles.

Organizers have expanded the event to cover over 40,000 square meters, three times the area last year.