The exhibition of masterpieces by Nicolai Fechin is now on view; Beijing Core: Unbound is wowing audiences with a show packed with thrilling highlights; multiple exhibitions at the Beijing 798 Art Festival remain open; and the "Maize, Gold, Jaguars — A Grand Exhibition of Ancient Maya and Andean Civilizations" is nearing the end of its run. Here's an art guide to help you make the most of the National Day holiday.

Homage to the Virtuosos: Exhibition of Masterpieces by Nicolai Fechin

Dates: Through February 14, 2027

Location: National Art Museum of China

Highlights: This exhibition brings together more than 70 paintings and sketches by Fechin, making it one of the largest and most comprehensive Fechin exhibitions held worldwide in recent years. It features important works from museum collections alongside outstanding pieces from private collections, including several valuable large-scale original paintings rarely exhibited outside Russia.

Beijing Core: Unbound

Dates: Through October 25

Each performance lasts about 75 minutes, with two shows daily at 14:30 and 17:00.

Location: South Plaza of Big Air Shougang

Highlights: The performance brings together world-class acrobatic techniques and music. Set against Shougang's striking industrial backdrop, the performance showcases the dynamic fusion of acrobatics and rock music through four aesthetic dimensions: strength, balance, flexibility and speed.

Maize, Gold, Jaguars — A Grand Exhibition of Ancient Maya and Andean Civilizations

Dates: Through October 18

Location: Capital Museum

Highlights:

It is the largest special exhibition since the museum's founding, covering nearly 10,000 square meters and featuring around 800 precious cultural relics from Mexico and Peru, spanning 3,000 years of ancient civilizations in the Americas. The exhibition was recently enriched with 19 newly added treasures from Peru. They showcase a diverse range of artifacts, including ceramic vessels, metal ritual objects, stone artifacts, and lacquered wooden objects from the colonial period, representing the Chanapata, Wari, and Inca civilizations—three key periods in the development of ancient Andean culture. 

The 20th Beijing 798 Art Festival

The annual Beijing 798 Art Festival is underway. During the festival, 110 exceptional exhibitions run concurrently. Below are some highlights:

Carsten Höller: Two

Dates: Through January 31, 2027

Location: UCCA Center for Contemporary Art

Planetary Navigation: As Above So Below

Dates: Through November 5, 2026

Location: MACA Art Center

"Prehistoric Planet: Dinosaurs"—The Epic Immersive Experience

Dates: Through January 3, 2027

Location: Fuxing Square in 798 Art District

798 International Youth Art Week

Dates: Through October 7

Highlights: The art week serves as a platform for young people to join in artistic co-creation and self-expression. Fun events include the thematic exhibition "Artistic Growth" (艺趣生长), the interactive art installation "Endless Botanical Garden" (无限植物园), and neo-Chinese folk music performances. In addition, special family tickets will be available, enabling young participants to go from exhibition visitors to creators in the digital era.

(Sources: Xinhua, official WeChat accounts of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, the Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau, the Chaoyang District Bureau of Culture and Tourism, the Shijingshan District Bureau of Culture and Tourism, and the Capital Museum)