National Center for the Performing Arts

Introduction to National Center for the Performing Arts （国家大剧院）

The National Center for the Performing Arts is the national opera house in Beijing. The building was designed by French architect Paul Andreu. The exterior consists of 18,000 titanium plates and over 1,000 sheets of ultra-white glass. The highlight has to be the artificial lake which surrounds the breathtaking work of art. The construction began in 2001 and was completed in 2007. The overall cost of the National Center for Performing Arts was a staggering 3.2 billion Yuan. The location of the center is also very close to Forbidden City, Great Hall of People and Tiananmen Square. 

The National Grand Theatre, also known as Beijing National Center for the Performing Arts is surrounded by an artificial lake. The spectacular glass and the titanium egg shaped design came from the famous French architect Paul Andreu. The dome measures 212 meters in east-west direction, 144 meters in north-south direction, and is 46 meters in height. Guests arrive in the building after walking through a hallway that goes underneath the lake. The theatre seats 5,452 people, the middle is Opera house, the east is Concert hall, and the west is Drama theatre. 

There are three halls which are used for different performances: 

- Opera House: operas, ballet, and dances can seat up to 2,416 people.
- Concert Hall: concerts and recitals and seats up to 2,017 people.
- Drama Theatre: plays and Beijing opera seats up to 1,040 people.

Location

No.2 Xichang'an Street, Xicheng District, Beijing

Travel Information

Admission Fee: 30 Yuan (Adult), 15 Yuan (Child), 40 Yuan (Family Ticket 1 Adult 1 Child), 65 Yuan (Family Ticket 2 Adults 1 Child) 
Opening Hours: 9:00AM - 4:30PM
Best Time to Visit: The National Center for the Performing Arts is suitable to visit all year round.

Main Sights

Opera House, Concert Hall and Drama Theatre

Transportation 

1. The most convenient and easy way to get to the National Center for the Performing Arts is to take metro line 1 and get off at Tiananmen West Station and leave the station via exit C. There is a underground passage that leads directly to the theatre. 

Travel Tips 

1.Do try to avoid visiting the National Center for the Performing Arts during the summer holidays and Golden Week in October.

Tour including Visiting National Center for the Performing Arts (Beijing)

Beijing Riding 4 Hours Tour