Beijing

Birds and blooms

Ink master Guo Yizong, 70, is holding his retrospective show of 130 flower-and-bird paintings completed during his 50-year career.

9 am-5 pm, until June 10, except Mondays. National Art Museum of China, 1 Wusi Dajie, Dongcheng district. 010-6401-7076

Key celebration

The Seventh French Aux Jacobins Piano Festival in Beijing will feature concerts by pianists Sergio Tempo, Frank Bradley, Lorraine Desmarais and Geoffroy Couteau.

The annual festival was inaugurated in Toulouse, France, in 1979. Since 2005, its artistic directors - Catherine d'Argoubet and Paul-Arnaud Pjouan - have created strong links between the festival and China by organizing tours and a special program as part of the Croisements Festival in Beijing, Shanghai and Fujian province's Xiamen city. In December 2005, it was invited to stage recitals at the Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing. Since 2006, it has organized three recitals in the capital and three in Shanghai. This year, the 10-day event will be staged at the Shanghai Oriental Art Center and the Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing.

7:30 pm, June 3 to 5. Forbidden City Concert Hall, inside Zhongshan Park, Northwest of Tian'anmen Square. 010-6559-8285

Ink as a link

South Korean artist Park Dae-sung's solo exhibition features more than 50 ink-wash paintings.

Park's works are set apart from typical modern art in that they're regarded as an extension of traditional culture. But Park's work is distinguished from other classical painters by its realistic rendering of details.

9 am-5 pm, until June 7. Hall 19, 20 and 21, National Art Museum of China. 1 Wusidajie, Dongcheng district. 010-6400-1476

Shanghai

Mixing words

Cross-talk is a form of traditional entertainment featuring onstage dialogue. Several upcoming shows will feature young actors joking about modern life. The Friday night performance is dedicated to childhood memories, and the Saturday night theme is comparing Beijing and Shanghai.

7:30 pm, June 3-4. Lyceum Theater, 57 Maoming Beilu. 021-6217-2426

Jazzing it up

The Shanghai Jazz Troupe will present a concert featuring songs from 1920-40s to commemorate the 103th birth anniversary of Li Jinhui, one of China's first pop music composers. The show will feature his most popular works, including Shangri-La, Evening Primrose and Wind of May.

7:30 pm, June 9. Shanghai Concert Hall, 523 Yan'an Donglu. 021-6386-2836

Chilling out

Ice dancing world champions, including Olympic champions Pang Qing and Tong Jian, will stage a gala show accompanied by live music performed by Lang Lang. It is the first time for Art on Ice to be staged in the country.

7 pm, June 18, 19; 3:30 pm, June 19. Mercedes-Benz Arena, 1200 Expo Avenue, Pudong New Area. 021-5150-9199

Irish choral crooners

Ireland's National Choir, Anuna, will give a recital in Shanghai. Anuna was founded by Dublin composer Michael McGlynn in 1987.

The name is derived from the collective term for the three types of ancient Irish music: the lullaby, celebratory songs and laments.

The choir says it aims to explore and redefine Irish choral music.

7:30 pm, June 16. Shanghai Oriental Art Center, 425 Dingxiang Lu. 021-6854-1234

Depicting dignity

Zhang Ding's film installations combine stage design and photography. The 31-year-old works to provide viewers with a rare glimpse into the lives of people who have maintained their dignity despite all odds. Zhang comes from Northwest China's Gansu province and now lives in Shanghai.

10 am-6 pm, until July 10. ShanghART H-Space, Building 18, 50 Moganshan Lu. 021-6359-3923