Must-see entertainment in Beijing

  • The National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), literally as National Grand Theatre, and colloquially described as The Giant Egg, is an opera house in Beijing. The Centre, an ellipsoid dome of titanium and glass surrounded by an artificial lake, seats 5,452 people in three halls and is almost 12,000 mᅡᄇ in size. It was designed by French architect Paul Andreu. Construction started in December 2001 and the inaugural concert was held in December 2007.

    National Centre for the Performing Arts

    Forbidden City & Dongcheng Central

    Plonked in the middle of an artificial lake like an alien spaceship, the Paul Andreu–designed NCPA (aka 'The Egg') is a surreal yet spectacular venue at…

  • Jiang Hu

    Beijing

    A hip hutong livehouse popular with local musicians, Jiang Hu stages folk, blues, jazz and open-mic shows most nights in its wood-beamed courtyard space…

  • Huguang Guild Hall opera museum entrance, with caged birds hanging outside.

    Huguang Guild Hall

    Beijing

    The most atmospheric Peking opera house in town (it was undergoing refurbishment at time of research, so fingers crossed it stays that way...), Huguang…

  • Beijing Opera performance, Chaoyang Theatre.

    Chaoyang Theatre

    Beijing

    Beijing's premier acrobatic show is a rapid-fire fiesta of youthful acrobats, gymnasts, contortionists and daredevils, who between them pull off some…

  • Workers' Stadium

    Beijing

    One of Mao's '10 Great Buildings' erected in 1959 to mark a decade of the People's Republic of China, the Workers' Stadium was built to hold 80,000 people…

  • Chang'an Grand Theatre

    Forbidden City & Dongcheng Central

    The opera mask on the forecourt is the only giveaway, save for the Chinese sign, that this modern block is actually an opera house. Chang'an Grand is more…

  • Modernista

    Beijing

    Local bands, cabaret, salsa dancing and life drawing are just some of the antics unfolding nightly at this arty, Jazz-Age-styled bar and performance space…

  • DDC

    Forbidden City & Dongcheng Central

    In a secluded hutong, Dusk Dawn Club is the place to catch small and mid-sized bands, from post-rock noise outfits to folk strummers, both Chinese and…

  • East Shore Jazz Bar

    Beijing

    Rock star Cui Jian’s saxophonist, whose quartet plays here, opened this dark and moody upstairs jazz den overlooking Qianhai Lake. It’s the best place to…

  • Forbidden City Concert Hall

    Forbidden City & Dongcheng Central

    Considered one of the city's best venues for acoustics, the Forbidden City Concert Hall is the modern successor to an open-air stage built inside regal…

  • Mei Lanfang Grand Theatre

    Beijing

    Named after China’s most famous practitioner of Peking opera, this modern theatre has around 1000 seats and is home turf for the prestigious China…

  • Broadway Cinematheque MOMA

    Beijing

    The closest Beijing has to a genuine art-house cinema. Regular mini-festivals cover various genres as well as the usual Hollywood blockbusters. Find it…

  • Blue Note

    Forbidden City & Dongcheng Central

    A classy, subterranean live-music venue staging high-profile international jazz, blues and fusion musicians. The historical Legation Quarter setting gives…

  • School Bar

    Beijing

    Distorted guitars rule at this divey mainstay of Beijing's underground-music scene. Punk, garage, indie and metal bands dominate, plus the occasional DJ…

  • Yue Space

    Beijing

    Check out up-and-coming Chinese bands at this arty, 500-capacity livehouse, which also stages movie screenings and cultural events.

  • Daguanlou Cinema

    Beijing

    Dingjun Mountain, an excerpt of Peking opera believed to be the first Chinese film, was screened at this historical cinema back in 1905. Remarkably, you…

  • Lao She Teahouse interior.

    Lao She Teahouse

    Beijing

    Named after the celebrated Chinese novelist and dramatist whose works include the play Teahouse, the nightly shows at this tourist-oriented complex are…

  • Liyuan Theatre

    Beijing

    This touristy theatre in the Qianmen Jianguo Hotel has nightly performances of Peking opera complete with English subtitles. The setting isn’t traditional…

  • Red Theatre

    Temple of Heaven Park & Dongcheng South

    The daily show is The Legend of Kung Fu, which follows one boy’s journey to become a warrior monk. Slick, high-energy fight scenes are interspersed with…

  • MegaBox

    Beijing

    Conveniently situated in the basement of the Taikoo Li Sanlitun shopping mall, this swish multiplex usually shows at least one or two English-language…

  • Temple Bar

    Beijing

    Cheap shooters, ear-splitting rock bands, and a young, up-for-it crowd make this smoky dive a fun place to visit on weekends. It's on the floor above…

  • Penghao Theatre

    Beijing

    Students from Nanluogu Xiang's Central Academy of Drama (China's most prestigious) sometimes perform at this informal, non-profit theatre on an unnamed…

  • Tango

    Beijing

    From international rock bands to EDM DJs, there's usually something going on at Tango, a medium-sized venue that comfortably holds a thousand revellers.

  • National Library Arts Centre

    Beijing

    Yet another Beijing venue specialising in classical recitals and orchestral ensembles. The concert hall is state-of-the-art, with around 1000 seats. You…

  • Dongtu Acrobatics Theatre

    Beijing

    The nightly 'Classic Acrobatic Show' is cheaper and less spectacular than the performance at Chaoyang Theatre, starring the more junior members of the…

  • Tianqiao Performing Arts Centre

    Beijing

    The Grand Theatre at this modern performing-arts complex has 1600 seats and hosts big-name touring productions like Blue Man Group, Wizard of Oz and the…

  • Poly Theatre

    Beijing

    Modern theatre venue that hosts a range of performances, including ballet, musical theatre, drama, classical, opera and Chinese folk music. Check the…

  • Star City

    Forbidden City & Dongcheng Central

    This six-screen cinema, at the eastern end of Wangfujing's Oriental Plaza, usually has at least one English-language option being screened.

  • 13 Club

    Beijing

    A student-oriented livehouse with a predisposition toward guitar solos, devil horns and dodgy drinks.

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