The National Centre for the Performing Arts is a remarkable landmark located on the west side of Tiananmen Square. Its innovative water droplet-shaped architecture is especially captivating when illuminated at night, offering a beautiful spectacle to visitors. Inside, the Centre spans five levels and houses an opera house, concert hall, drama theater, and a small theater, all accessible through the north entrance, where visitors can pass through the exhibition halls on either side and take a direct elevator to reach the various performance halls.
The opera house, with its primary adornment in a splendid golden hue, is the stage for grand operas, ballets, and large-scale artistic performances. Notably, the proscenium stage is fully functional and can swiftly change scenes, which is quite remarkable. The opera house regularly hosts operas and musicals from domestic and international groups; for specific performance schedules, please refer to the official website.
The concert hall, with its pure white and solemn appearance, offers a tranquil, fresh, and elegant ambiance. It hosts large-scale symphony and traditional Chinese music performances. The organ within the concert hall is elegantly designed, with a rich and full sound, numerous stops, and a multitude of pipes, making it the ‘treasure of the hall’. The concert hall’s architecture has invested significantly in acoustic effects, ensuring that a performance here is an enjoyable experience.
During the opera festival from April to July each year, visitors can also enjoy wonderful operas in the public areas. This annual event adds to the cultural richness that the National Centre for the Performing Arts brings to the capital.The drama theater with national characteristics is primarily colored in traditional Chinese red. Silk walls create a warm and passionate atmosphere. It mainly stages dramas, operas, and local operas.
The small theater, a versatile multifunctional theater within the National Centre for the Performing Arts, features a fresh overall tone and elegant style. It is capable of hosting chamber music, small solo performances, small theater dramas, small theater operas, modern dance, and other artistic performances.
Additionally, there are two exhibition halls on the east and west sides of the north entrance of the theater. Each covers an area of 1200 square meters. They host various art exhibitions throughout the year and are open for interested visitors to explore.
Opening hours are Tuesday to Sunday from 09:00 to 17:00. Closed all day on Mondays. Open from 09:00 to 17:00 on New Year’s Day, Spring Festival, Qingming Festival, Labor Day, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, and National Day.
Preferential policies include: Children under 6 years old or under 1.2 meters in height must be accompanied by an adult ticket holder and enter for free. On Children’s Day, children under 14 years old enter for free. Military personnel with disabilities enter for free with their original disability certificates. On Army Day, active military and armed police (including firefighters) enter for free with valid documents. Active military personnel enter at half price with their original officer or non-commissioned officer certificates. Retired personnel enter for free with their original retirement certificates. People over 60 years old enter at half price with their original ID or senior citizen card. People with disabilities enter for free with their original disability certificates. On Teacher’s Day, teachers enter for free with their original teacher’s certificates. Students with student IDs from public universities enter at half price. On Women’s Day, women enter at half price.Parental Policy:
On Children’s Day, we offer a special discount for one accompanying parent of children under 14 years old, who can enter at half price.
Service Facilities:
– Parking Lot: National Centre for the Performing Arts Underground Parking Lot
– Reference Price: ¥6 per hour
– Location: Accessible through the northeast entrance (west of the People’s Congress Hall West Road) or the northwest entrance (east of the Stone Stele Hutong)
– Capacity: 200 spaces
Dining Options:
– Café
– Western Restaurant
