Beijing has renewed its dedication to promoting cultural experiences and international performances, with new theater complexes, renovations, and revitalized programs.
To help you keep up with the hundreds of acts that are coming through the capital each year, we put together a guide to our favorite spots to catch shows in the city.
READ MORE: 6 Spectacular Stage Shows to Catch in May
The Beijing Performing Arts Center
Image by Zhu Yumeng
The newest addition to the city’s theater circuit, the Beijing Performing Arts Center (北京艺术中心), consists of three independent buildings containing four indoor theaters – the Opera House, Concert Hall, Drama Theater, and Small Theater – as well as an outdoor amphitheater, with a total of 5,610 seats.
The unique structure, shaped like an ancient granary, was designed by Perkins & Will and Schmidt Hammer Lassen’s combined Shanghai studio with landscaping by SLA. The eco-friendly complex opened in 2024 at the north end of the Grand Canal – a more than 1500-year-old UNESCO World Heritage site.
The BPAC is the crown jewel of Tongzhou’s rapidly developing Cultural Tourism Zone, which is a collection of major civic projects that includes museums, libraries, art zones, and extensive parklands, as well as the biggest foreign-funded project in the city – the Universal Beijing Resort.
BPAC Opera House. Image by Zhu Yumeng
The center’s Opera House features China’s largest and most comprehensive immersive sound system, bringing audience members a vibrant blend of art and technology. The complex will host hundreds of performances a year with everything from traditional Chinese and western operas to orchestral performances, stage dramas, avant-garde plays, and immersive dance shows.
Tickets: Although there are some free performances at the amphitheater, tickets to the indoor shows range from RMB80-1,080 depending on the seating section.
Although you can purchase tickets at the box office, we recommend purchasing them ahead of time on their website or through online ticketing agents such as Klook Travel.
Transportation: Since it is around a RMB100 taxi ride from the city center, we recommend you take subway line 6, get off at Dongxiayuan station, take exit C, and then wait for the free shuttle service to the main entrance.
Beijing Performing Arts Center, No.1 Lvxin Lu, Tongzhou
The National Grand Theater
Image via AI
The National Grand Theater (国家大剧院), also known as the Beijing National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA) and colloquially as ‘the Egg,’ is located near Tiananmen Square. It contains an opera house, concert hall, and drama theatre that cumulatively seat 5,452 people.
The 46-meter-high dome designed by French architect Paul Andreu opened in 2007, and its large shell is made of over 1,200 pieces of ultra-white glass and more than 18,000 titanium plates – of which only four are the same shape.
The stunning structure is surrounded by a massive moat that guests enter the theater under through a passageway with a shimmering glass ceiling. The NCPA extends 10 stories underground, and its weight is supported by the abundant groundwater of an ancient river channel.
NCPA Concert Hall. Image via Pixels
The theater hosts large-scale performances including operas, ballets, symphonies, plays and dance shows, as well as free public performances. You can also join one of the free guided tours that take place between 10am and 2pm daily.
Tickets: Prices vary greatly based on the day of the week, time, and section, but you can usually score cheap seats for around RMB80 and primo spots for up to RMB980.
Transportation: The NCPA is just a short walk from subway line 1 – get off at Tiananmen Square West station, take exit C, and go 50m west to the north entrance of the theater.
National Center for the Performing Arts, No.2 West Chang'an Avenue, Xicheng
The Tianqiao Performing Arts Center
Image via Beijing.gov
The Tianqiao Performing Arts Center (天桥艺术中心), which consists of the Grand Theater, Lyric Theater, Studio Theater, and Theater Lab, opened in 2015. Its Grand Theater, which seats 1,600 guests, was Beijing’s first professional theater specifically designed for large-scale musicals.
The diverse layouts of the center’s stages make it the perfect host for all different types of performances, including musicals, dramas, dance acts, family shows, children's plays, and concerts.
The center also focuses on promoting international performing arts with activities such as lectures, master classes, workshops, rehearsal classes, pre-show tours, post-show talks and mini shows in the Theater Lab.
Tickets: While some of the activities are free, the cheapest seats for the shows are usually RMB80, and the priciest ones are typically around RMB1,080.
Transportation: Take subway line 8 to Tianqiao station, go out exit A, and the main entrance is about a five-minute walk south.
Tianqiao Performing Arts Center, No.9 Tianqiao Nandajie, Xicheng
The Beijing OCT Theater
Image via OCT
The Beijing OCT Theater was built for just one performance – The Golden Mask Dynasty (金面王朝). Produced by prominent Chinese playwrights, directors, composers and designers, the play features Chinese dances, acrobatics, martial arts, elaborate costumes, stunning lighting and state of the art acoustics.
The show was sponsored by Overseas Chinese Town (OCT), which invested RMB200 million into building the OCT Theater for just for this one memorizing performance. It tells the story tells how a queen who wears a golden mask creates a splendid dynasty through wisdom, tolerance, trust, and boundless love.
Image via the Golden Mask Dynasty
Since its premier in 2007, over 200 actors have performed the show daily at the theater, which utilizes some of the most advance stage mechanics in the country
The OCT Theater is located right next to the Happy Valley theme park, making it a great spot for a day trip with fun for the whole family!
Tickets: The show takes place daily from 5.30-6.40pm. Tickets for the different sections are RMB280/380/480/580/880.
Transportation: Take subway line 7 to the Happy Valley Scenic Area station, take exit B, and you will see the immediately see the theatre in front of you.
Beijing OCT Theater, Xiaowuji Beilu, Chaoyang
Red Theater
Image via Wanderboat
Red Theater (红剧场) is renowned for its amazing acrobatic shows, which star dozens of incredible performers that have trained since childhood to achieve mind-bending feats.
Red Theater’s ‘Heroes of Shu County’ show has garnered international acclaim and been attended by world leaders, ambassadors, and celebrities. It features everything from classic Chinese stunts, such as plate spinning, to modern spectacles, such as the ‘Motorbike Globe’ and the ‘Wheel of death.
Image via Klook
Red Theater also hosts kung fu shows and visiting acts, but their world-famous acrobatics show takes place daily, with additional performances during the peak season. The show is a must see for Chinese and foreign visitors to Beijing.
Tickets: The daily acrobatic show has tickets available for RMB280/380/480/580/680/880.
Transportation: Take line 5 to Temple of Heaven East Gate station, go out exit B, walk eastward, turn left at the second crossword, and in 200m, the theater will be on your right (will be around an 18-minute walk).
Red Theater, No.44 Xingfu Dajie, Dongcheng
[Cover image via Planet of Hotels]
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