Best bets

Jiang Dong / China Daily

Rome and Baroque art

Children's Play: The Andersen Code

Date: Aug 8 and 9: 2:30 pm

Venue: National Center for the Performing Arts

Price: RMB 80-400

With its fancy set design and 3-D multimedia projection, The Andersen Code provides new interpretations of familiar fairy tales such as Snow White, The Little Match Girl, The Little Mermaid and others.

NCPA August Chorus Festival 2014, featuring The Mikrokosmos Choir

Date: Aug 4, 7:30 pm

Venue: National Center for the Performing Arts

Price: RMB 80-200

Founded in 1989 by artistic director Loic Pierre, Mikrokosmos brings together two groups of young singers from all over France, totaling 40 young choral singers dedicated to creating a cappella music.

French Super Cup 2014

Aug 2: 8:30 pm

Venue: Beijing Workers Stadium

Price: RMB 180-880

The 19th edition of the French Super Cup will be the first time the competition has been held in Asia, but the sixth consecutive time it's taken place on foreign soil. Paris Saint-Germain, the winners of the 2013-14 Ligue 1 title, will play En Avant Guingamp, the winners of the 2014 Coupe de France. PSG will be defending their title, having defeated Bordeaux in the 2013 edition, played in Gabon.

Kunqu Opera: The Romance of the West Chamber

Date: Aug 7: 7:30 pm

Venue: Forbidden City Concert Hall

Price: RMB 20-100

The Romance of the Western Chamber tells the story of young scholar Zhang Sheng and Cui Yingying, the prime minister's daughter, who meet and fall in love. When their romance is threatened by Cui's mother, who refuses to allow her daughter to marry Zhang because he is impoverished, the young couple enlists the help of Cui's maid, Hong Niang, and eventually breaks through the traditional barriers.