Fatherly advice

On Sunday, the victory for men's rights that is Father's Day will arrive in the capital. The holiday is mainly celebrated because of an outpouring of jealousy over Mother's Day. But there's no denying that the fathers who spawned a group of single men dressing up as superheroes and hanging from high places in the name of the Fathers 4 Justice movement deserve their one day of the year to be taken care of.

Men, as we know, are often discriminated against in society and are subject to harsh stereotypes about the amount of cooking they do and the state of their clean clothes. This Father's Day, why not try to make amends for these stereotypes by treating dad to something nice?

The way to the heart …

The way to the heart is through the stomach? Has that ever been more true than with your dad? If you are lucky enough to have your big man in Beijing right now, whether he lives here or is debonair enough to be travelling to this great city, then take him out for a slap up meal to keep that beer belly growing.

Most of the international hotels around town will be laying out big spreads and normally catering events for kids as well. Although they do seem to think that Father's Day only really applies if your name is Rockefeller, you'll get what you pay for, and most are out to give three course meals, which includes some rather fancy fluted drinks in the price. The Hilton Wangfujing is hosting a Father's Day brunch, complete with live music, while the Westin Beijing Chaoyang is having a kid friendly cowboy buffet. In fact, most hotels around town are playing host to an event. Expect to spend around 400 yuan ($63) per adult.

A little bit cheaper, although equally chic, Alameda and SALT will be running their own brunches over the weekend, if you want to get away from the mobs and glitzy, sterile hotels.

Present a present

How do you spoil your father if wining and dining is not an option? We suggest buying a gift. Beijing may be a haven for cheap booze and greasy food, but there are a plethora of affordable presents that are slightly less likely to give him that early stroke.

Get the old man a massage. You know how it goes, years of playing football with the kids, bad posture from watching too much TV, or even neck pains from all that tie wearing, has not been great for the joints. A professional massage should serve to undo some of the stress that's built up since last Father's Day.

Failing that, if dad is single, you can always go and get him a haircut from one of Beijing's legendary "hairdressers," at half the price of a trim. You will pay less, but he will get so much more.

If your dad is the type who reads Stuff magazine like it is the Bible, why not get him some fake electronics? Nothing says you love him quite like a fake iPad. It is less than half the price of the real deal and he'll be just as able to not operate it as the real thing. Chinese company Aigo have been knocking off android tablets for little over 1,000 yuan for the past couple of years and produce models about the size of a book. They might not be able to run Grand Theft Auto 3, but they'll keep dad quiet with a copy of Angry Birds for hours.

Finally, we recommend a barbeque. Alright, we're straying a little bit back into Rockefeller territory here, but if you can afford it, you probably have a place to put a man-sized barbeque somewhere in your compound or luxury villa. Villa Lifestyles sells UK engineered ultra super dad barbeques in Beijing for people who want a little bit more than chuanr for dinner. Expect to spend around 20,000 yuan, but you'll probably get a Father's Day meal thrown in courtesy of him anyway.

Otherwise, hit your local Carrefour or supermarket to pick up a 30 yuan disposable one. You should probably include a couple of burgers with that though.

Beer goggles

Let's be honest, your dad has to deal with you all year, so he probably needs help relaxing and unwinding. For Father's Day you should therefore buy him some beers. Great Leap Brewery, the eternal expat favorite, sells a selection of brews suitable for the older gentleman who prefers a pint of porter and decent cigar. They're also stocking lighter IPAs and blondes for the "still young at heart" drunk.

Seeing as it's dad, we'll stick with brews made right here in Beijing, just to give it that extra authentic touch. Slow Boat brewery has begun to make its name known with its own brand of craft beers and has been touring the Beijing scene.

If all else fails, get him down to one of the longer standing microbreweries in town. Paulaner Br uhaus, Drei Kronen and the ever fun Hopfenstube will all allow him to unwind with a swift half of nourishing weissbier.

Watch the footie with him

Sunday is a day made for football. If dad's a footie fan then make the effort to stay awake in the evening and get down to Paddy O'Sheas, Black Sun, The Den or practically every other bar in Beijing for a night of conversation that involves insulting referees at Euro 2012. Germany is going head to head with equally efficient Denmark, while Portugal might be reliving its World Cup match against the Netherlands.

Who could ask for more on Father's Day?

Where to get your Father's Day fix

Eating

Westin Beijing Chaoyang: 7 Northeast Third Ring Road, Sanlitun Yanshaqiao, Chaoyang district

Hilton Wangfujing: 8 Wangfujing Dongdajie, Dongcheng district

SALT: 2/F, 9 Jiangtai Xilu, Chaoyang district

Alameda: 4/F, Nali Patio, Sanlitun Beijie, Chaoyang district

Massage suggestions

Spa de Feng: C306, Sunshine 100, 2 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang district, around 350 yuan for massage

Oriental Taipan: Central Park, Building 25, Chaoyang district, 600 yuan upwards

Dragonfly Retreat: Eastern Inn, 6 Baijiazhuang Lu, Chaoyang district, from around 200 yuan

Electronics

Hailong Tower: 1 Zhongguancun Dajie, Haidian district

Bainaohui electronics center: 99 Chaoyangmenwai Dajie, Chaoyang district

Barbeques

Villa Lifestyles: 4/F, Euro Plaza, 99 Yuxiang Lu, Tianzhu town, Shunyi district

Carrefour: 31 Guangqu Lu, Shuangjing, Chaoyang district

Beers

Great Leap Brewing: 6 Doujiao Hutong, Dongcheng district

Slow Boat (on tap at): Bang Bang, Suite 103, Bld 24, Hopson International Park, Shuanghuayuan Nanli Area 3, Chaoyang district; The Bookworm, Sanlitun Nanjie, Chaoyang district

Paulaner Br uhaus: 50 Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang district

Hopfenstube: U-Town, 2 Sanfeng Beili, Chaowai Dajie, Chaoyang district

Drei Kronen: 1/F, China View 5, Gongti Donglu, Chaoyang district

Sports

Paddy O'Shea's: 28 Dongzhimenwai Dajie, Chaoyang district

Black Sun: Chaoyang Park West Gate, Chaoyang district

The Den: A4 Gongti Donglu, Chaoyang district