Suzhou
Píngtán enthusiasts gather here to keep the traditions alive. The music usually starts at 8pm. Order some tea (unlimited serves ¥200), and pick songs (¥50…
Must-see entertainment in China
Pingzha Performing Arts Centre
Guangxi
In the village of Ping, 800m northwest of Chenyang Bridge, is this open-air stage that hosts daily traditional Dong music and dance performances. If there…
Chongqing City
Fabulous, below-ground club that's the place to catch live music. Local bands take to the stage every weekend, but it also hosts any act of note passing…
Henan
This elaborate zen-themed light-and-music show, directed by Tan Dun, is set against the magnificent backdrop of Shaoshi Shan. Music is prerecorded but the…
Qingdao
This historic 1930s cinema is much cheaper than the larger ones inside the city's modern shopping malls and at least one of its three screens usually…
Macau
This edgy but elusive contemporary-dance company has performed everywhere – in parks, on rooftops, in factories, and on stage in Macau and overseas. See…
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…
Beijing
Check out up-and-coming Chinese bands at this arty, 500-capacity livehouse, which also stages movie screenings and cultural events.
Shanghai
This cinema on the 5th floor of the Metro City mall has four screens and shows some English-language films.
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…
Beijing
Named after the celebrated Chinese novelist and dramatist whose works include the play Teahouse, the nightly shows at this tourist-oriented complex are…
Macau
A golden lotus-shaped tower, the delightfully tacky Grand Lisboa has become the landmark by which people navigate the peninsula's streets. Its four gaming…
Harbin
An architectural marvel, this sinuous, space-age theatre complex designed by MAD Architects has two auditoriums and hosts orchestral, dance and operatic…
Suzhou Culture and Arts Centre
Suzhou
On the banks of Jinji Lake is one of the city’s most iconic buildings. Shaped like a crescent moon and bearing a striking nest-like facade that changes…
Macau
Wynn Palace has upped the game by having its own cable-car system take visitors around a huge fountain with dragon-topped pillars, dancing spouts and…
Macau
Family-friendly and reasonably priced (for Cotai), Parisian offers 3000 rooms ('famille' rooms have adorable children's furniture), and a huge play area…
Macau
This extravaganza of Chinese mythology, acrobatics, song and dance is based loosely on the Chinese classic Journey to the West whose central character was…
Macau
You can recognise Studio City from afar by the figure-eight-shaped 'Golden Reel' at its centre, a double Ferris wheel with views across Cotai. This…
Chengdu
This small publike venue is the place in Chengdu to catch live local bands; they play most Fridays and Saturdays, and occasional weekdays, usually from…
Yunnan
This nightly dance show sees group dancing by many Mosuo men and women in traditional dress around a fire, with the occasional tourist joining in. The…
Beijing
This touristy theatre in the Qianmen Jianguo Hotel has nightly performances of Peking opera complete with English subtitles. The setting isn’t traditional…
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…
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…
Shenzhen
The long-established Brown Sugar Jar has several locations in Shenzhen, but this is its main live house, a cavernous, warehouse-style space buried deep in…
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…
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…
Shanghai
This state-of-the-art 1100-seat theatre in the impressive Himalayas Center, attached to the Jumeirah Himalayas Hotel, stages Chinese opera, other…
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.
Macau
From its airy venue in the heart of the peninsula, this foundation promotes the Macau identity through a carefully curated series of art exhibitions,…
Shanghai
The galactically styled UFO structure of the Mercedes-Benz Arena at the former World Expo site is a truly impressive building. It hosts big-name…
Hong Kong
This government-run performance venue shares a building with a wet market and cooked food centre. Its year-round program leans towards drama by local…
Jiangxi
This small theatre within the grounds of Tengwang Pavilion puts on short but high-quality performances of traditional dance and music five times a day. An…
Garden of the Master of the Nets
Suzhou
From April to November, music performances are held nightly from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. Performances move from room to room so you'll see a bit of the garden…
Hong Kong
In need of some LOL? Hong Kong's first full-time comedy club, founded by Chinese-American Jameson Gong, has stand-up and improv acts in English, Cantonese…
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…
Macau
One of the peninsula's older international casinos, the Sands' gaming floors have a somewhat dated, midrange-hotel-lobby vibe. Within walking distance of…
Hong Kong
For at least two weekends a month, this subterranean Italian restaurant morphs into an entertainment venue hosting jazz and other live music – chequered…
Beijing
The nightly 'Classic Acrobatic Show' is cheaper and less spectacular than the performance at Chaoyang Theatre, starring the more junior members of the…
Xi'an
Some travellers enjoy spending the evening at the free fountain and music show on Big Goose Pagoda Sq; it’s the largest such ‘musical fountain’ in Asia…
