Beijing Performances, Theaters

Performances

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Beijing is the cradle of Beijing Opera, acrobatics, cross-talk, and story-telling. Beijing Opera is the quintessence of Chinese culture. It combines singing, dancing, music, art and literature, which endears itself to people home and overseas. Chinese acrobatics has won many awards at an international level and has amazed audiences throughout the world. In a cross-talk, performers use different ways to make you laugh. They may tell jokes, imitate, show stunts or sing in exaggerated ways. It is so comical that audiences can't help laughing. Story-telling (Pingshu) is deeply loved by local people. As a common practice, the teller has a paper fan in one hand and stands behind a table that has a block on. The block is used to call listeners' attention when he comes to the showdown of the story. With particular cadence and actions, it is quite interesting.

Following are some recommended theaters and concert halls.

Huguang Huiguan Theater
Location: No.3, Hufang Lu, Xuanwu District
Tel: 010-63529134
Feature: Beijing Opera

Liyuan Theater
Location: 1/F, Qianmen Jianguo Hotel, No.175, Yong'an Lu, Xuanwu District
Tel: 010-63016688-8860
Feature: Beijing Opera

Laoshe Teahouse
Location: No.3, Qianmen Xidajie, near the Tiananmen Square
Tel: 010-63036830
Feature: Beijing Opera, acrobatics, cross-talk, Beijing folk music

Zhengyici Theater
Location: No.220, Xiheyan Dajie, Dongcheng District
Tel: 010-63036233
Feature: Beijing Opera

Chang'an Grand Theater
Location: No.7, Dongchangan Jie, Dongcheng District
Tel: 010-65101309 65101310
Feature: Beijing Opera

Capital Theater
Location: No.22, Wangfujing Dajie, Dongcheng District
Tel: 010-65249847
Feature: Chinese drama

Tianqiao Theater
Location: No 30, Beiwei Lu, Xuanwu District
Tel: 010-83156356
Feature: opera, ballet

Poly Theater
Location: No.14, Dongzhimen Nandajie, Dongcheng District
Tel: 010-65001188-5621
Feature: opera, ballet, symphony, musical play

China Puppet Theater
Location: No. Jia 1, Anhua Xili, Chaoyang District
Tel: 010-64243698
Feature: puppet show

China National Children's Art Theater
Location: No. 64, Anhua Xili, Chaoyang District
Tel: 010-65129688 010-65129689
Feature: performance designed for children

Beijing Concert Hall
Location: No.1, Beixinhua Jie, Chaoyang District
Tel: 010-66057006
Feature: concert

Jinfan Concert Hall
Location: No.24, Wangfujing Dajie, Dongcheng District
Tel: 010-65250615
Feature: concert

Comments and Questions

Hi,

I will be visitng Beijing in December. I would like to enquire if there are daily performances at the China Puppet Theater,China National Children's Art Theater and the Beijing Concert Hall.Also, do I need to book the tickets in advance or can I get them a few days before?

Thank you.

Clara

Reply10/22/2009 9:07:00 AMClara , Singapore

Fang Fu Chen ( China ) :10/23/2009 6:09:00 AM

Clara,
It seems that the performance schedule for December has not come out yet. You will have to wait for a few days.

Hi, Jack
You can buy the tickets from the theater or you can book them from some commercial website.

Reply8/20/2009 10:16:00 PMbeijinger , China

Would you please tell us how to buy the tickets for the performances? Can we buy it at the theater or from the hotel we stay? Thanks!

Reply8/20/2009 2:26:00 AMJack , Australia

Hi, I will be in Beijing on July 24-27. I want to watch Beijing acrobatics. I'll be staying near Wangfujing. Can you recommend schedules? Thanks!

Reply7/5/2009 4:01:00 AMShamoy Vista , Philippines

BeijingTrip.com :7/6/2009 11:40:00 PM

Thanks for your inquiry.
Here we offer you a list of acrobatics performances in Beijing:
a. Chaoyang Theater: 17:15-18:15, 19:15-20:30 (daily)
b. Red Theater: 19:30-20:50 (daily)
c. Wansheng Theater: 17:30-18:30, 19:15-20:40 (daily)
d. Tiandi Theater: 19:15 (daily)

Thanks for supporting beijingtrip.com!

Hi, Richard
I think there are two places where you can see the shadow puppet show: one is the China Puppet Theater, the other is Beijing Shadow Puppet Show Troupe locacted on the East Street of Liulichang.

Reply6/7/2009 9:57:00 PMZeng Shaowei , China

Any shadow puppet shows in Beijing in June?

Reply6/7/2009 8:49:00 PMRichard Ray

Hi, Pablo
as i know there is no such performances in those theatres. Sometimes you may see it in some restaurants.

Reply5/25/2009 3:47:00 AMLing Cui , China

Hi!
I am in Beijing this week and I would like to see the show where a man changes faces (masks). Does anyone know where is that show?
thank you!

Reply5/24/2009 6:29:00 AMpablo , Argentina

I'm visiting Beijing from the US. I have seen the Kung Fu and Acrobat show during a prior visit. I'm looking for a similar acrobat/dance/ballet production for Saturday, April 25th. Could you suggest?

Reply4/22/2009 10:51:00 PMVirgil , United States

BeijingTrip.com :4/22/2009 11:28:00 PM

On April 25th, you can watch the Traditional Chinese Acrobatics Show at Chaoyang Theater, the Top Acrobatics Class in Tiandi Theater, or the dance drama:A Handful of Wild Jujubes at Beijing Exhibition Center. For detailed information, please see our Monthly Activities at http://www.beijingtrip.com/entertainment/monthly-activities.htm.

Enjoy a good time and thanks for supporting beijingtrip.com!

I will be with my family in Beijing from July 17-21; we would like to see some gymnastics and acrobatics - do you have any advance schedules? What about July 12-17 in Shanghai?

Reply4/19/2009 5:48:00 PMJames Harris , United States

BeijingTrip.com :4/20/2009 2:39:00 AM

Thanks for your enquiry.

We do provide advance schedules of art performances presented in Beijing, including acrobatics shows, dance shows, operas and concerts. We present a selected list on our 'Monthly Activities', according the schedules of Beijing theaters.

We are also glad to inform you with performance schedules in other cities like Shanghai.

Thanks for supporting beijingtrip.com!

Yes, the puppet performances are presented in China Puppet Theater every weekend.

Reply4/6/2009 3:10:00 AMBeijinger , China

I am bringing my 5 year old son to Beijing May 7,8,9, 2009. Is the puppet show at the puppet theatre ?? for a little child?
Al

Reply4/5/2009 12:52:00 AMAl Yuen

Hello, this is kent andre
we are in Beijing
I very like GuZheng/Zither music, and VERY like Lin Ling of
Beijing..
where to find such music performance?
Thank you. xiexie. dodgie
Kent Andre

Reply2/17/2009 9:53:00 PMKent Andre , Norway

BeijingTrip.com :2/18/2009 8:56:00 PM

Hi, Kent
Here is a piece of good news for you. On 6th March (at 19:30), there will be a Zither music concert in Beijing Music Hall. Its address is No. 1 Xinhua Street in Xicheng District. You can take buses No.1, 4, 10, 52, 728 or take subway to the Xidan Station. Have a nice time!

Thanks for trusting beijingtrip.com!