During a Beijing tour, besides visiting the iconic imperial palaces and hutongs, surely you'll want a deep exploration of local rich culture. Watching a show in Beijing is a great way to look into a cross-section of popular art forms in Beijing. You can see stunning stage design, highly-skilled acrobatics, beautiful costumes, hear Beijing Opera featuring the distinct sounds of the Jinghu (a two-stringed fiddle) and the powerful, stylized singing, and experience many other unique folk performances.
If you feel it's hard to predict how suitable a show will be for you, please read on to check our list of best shows in Beijing for some ideas. Location, tickets, showing times, highlights of each show and essential visiting tips are all covered.
1. Acrobatics Show at Red Theatre Beijing
As a popular performance venue in Beijing, the Red Theatre Beijing is especially known for its spectacular acrobatic performances. For many visitors, the unique charm of Chinese acrobatics is a must cultural experience during their Beijing travel.
The acrobatic shows at Red Theatre will amaze you with a perfect combination of traditional Chinese acrobatics with modern stage art. The artists' exceptional skills and precise movements complemented by graceful dance, dynamic lighting, and music, will undoubtedly create breathtaking visual spectacles.
Currently the major acrobatic show staged at Red Theatre Beijing is the Stunt Show: Heroes of Shu. Signature acts you can expect at the show include collective hoop diving, high-chair balancing, drum kicking, bowl balancing, aerial straps, Sichuan face-changing, and the heart-pounding 'Globe of Death' (motorcycles in a cage)."
Ticket & Schedule Information:
Location: No. 44, Xingfu Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
Duration: 60 minutes (16:20-17:20, 17:30-18:30)
Price: CNY 280~CNY 880 (around USD 40.13 - USD 126.12) p.p; Price varies from different seats.
How to get to: Take Metro Line 5 and get off at Tiantan Dongmen Station, exit B. Then walk 500 meters east, and turn left at the Tiantan Hotel.
How to book the ticket: Search “北京红剧场杂技大世界门票官网” (the official WeChat account of the Red Theater) on WeChat, follow the on-screen instructions to finish the reservation. Or contact Catherinelu Tours to help you book the ticket.
2. The Golden Mask Dynasty at the Beijing Happy Valley Theater
As a breathtaking tribute to the Sanxingdui civilization, the Golden Mask Dynasty (金面王朝) is a grand Oriental mythological spectacle. The production weaves a soul-stirring narrative between the Princess of the "Flying Bird" tribe and the Prince of the "Leaping Fish" tribe. It is especially known for its meticulous restoration of iconic Sanxingdui artifacts, such as The Bronze Sacred Tree, the Sun Bird, and bronze masks with protruding eyes.
Storyline of the Show
Through eight epic chapters, the show vividly brings the mysterious Sanxingdui civilization to life. The young Princess of the Bird Tribe encountered an injured Prince from the Fish Tribe. Then, the Prince turned to the Princess for help as he was hunted by a treacherous uncle seeking to overthrow his people. To save the world and ensure peace between the tribes, the Princess sacrifices her own life. Under the Prince's leadership, the two tribes unite to rebuild their homes and live in harmony.
Why Recommend It?
Clear & Compelling Story: Though inspired by the mysterious Sanxingdui bronze civilization, the storyline is fast-paced and compact. You can understand it even with no background.
Multi-Sensory Effects: The stage comes alive with sound, light, fire, and electricity, creating a truly visceral experience.
Diverse Art Forms: It is a seamless blend of acrobatics, contemporary dance, and live singing.
Exquisite Costumes: All the beautiful costumes are deeply researched.
1:1 Replicas: The show is like a living museum, featuring nearly 100 artifacts that are 1:1 replicas of treasures unearthed at the Sanxingdui site.
Ticket & Schedule Information:
Location: OCT Grand Theatre at Beijing Happy Valley
Performance Time: 17:30 – 18:30 daily except Tuesdays
Duration: about 1 hours
Ticket Price: CNY 280 for D Zone, CNY 380 for C Zone, CNY 480 for B Zone, CNY 580 for A Zone, and CNY 880 for VIP Seat. You may get discounted prices if book in advance through official platforms or authorized travel partners, like Catherinelutours.com.
Entry Tip: Ticket checking begins 30 minutes before the show starts.
3. Beijing Opera at Liyuan Theater
Beijing Liyuan Theatre is the first "teahouse-style" theater in Beijing, which was established in October 1990. Over the decades, it has become a landmark cultural destination in Beijing, and is especially popular among international tourists seeking an authentic taste of Chinese heritage. Unlike a standard modern auditorium, the theatre immerse visitors in the charm of old Beijing through its traditional teahouse layout and seats.
Currently, some common repertoire of Liyuan Theatre include Autumn River (秋江), Farewell My Concubine (霸王别姬), Centipede Ridge (蜈蚣岭), The Eight Immortals Cross the Sea (八仙过海), Beating Jiao Zan (打焦赞), The Heavenly Maiden Scatters Flowers (天女散花), Selling Water (卖水), Duel with Ma Chao (战马超), and White Water Beach (白水滩).
Three Main Sections of Liyuan Theater
The Performance Hall: Features traditional Ba-Xian tables (Eight Immortals tables) modeled after those in the classic Qing Dynasty opera houses; can house up to 800 guests; offering premium Chinese tea and authentic local snacks.
The Exhibition Hall: A curated spac, with various exhibits and photos of legendary artists showcasing the 200-year evolution of Peking Opera.
The Display & Sales Hall: A vibrant space where visitors can purchase Beijing Opera related crafts and souvenirs, such as painted masks, musical instruments and calligraphy. What's more, visitors can even put on opera costumes and facial makeup to take some memorable photos.
Why Recommend Liyuan Theater
The theater primarily serves international tourists, offering a curated selection of masterpieces. The art form is accessible to everyone.
There are electronic screens with Chinese and English subtitles, and even offers simultaneous interpretation in Japanese, and French.
Guests can visit the dressing rooms before the show to see the process of facial painting and costume preparation.
Visitors can put on authentic opera costumes and have their face painted by professionals.
Ticket & Schedule Information:
Show Time: 19:30 – 20:30, held weekly from Wednesday through Saturday
Ticket price: ¥580 / ¥480 / ¥380 for traditional teahouse seating; ¥280 for Standard Row Seating.
Location: 1st Floor, Qianmen Jianguo Hotel, No. 175 Yongan Road, Xicheng District, Beijing.
How to get to: Take subway Line 7 to Hufangqiao Station, leave via Exit C, and walk south for approximately 300 meters to Yongan Road. Take Line 2 to Hepingmen Station. From there, the theatre is just an 8-minute taxi ride away. Or, you can take Bus Route 6 or Route 15 and get off at the Yongan Road Station.
4. Yuxiandu Royal Cuisine Museum and Show
If you want some special dining experience in Beijing, Yuxiandu Royal Cuisine Museum should be a can't miss. The Museum operates on a unique concept of “a museum within a restaurant, and a restaurant within a museum.” More than the grandeur of Qing Dynasty imperial dining, the museum is also famous for its large-scale theatrical performances, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in an ultimate cultural and culinary journey.
Three Integrated Zones in the Museum
Imperial Cuisine History and Culture Exhibition Zone: Showcases the rich heritage of Chinese royal culinary traditions. You can expect to see anecdotes about historical emperors' dining habits, along with stories behind famous dishes and celebrated chefs.
Imperial Cuisine Tasting and Experience Zone:In this zone visitors can savor authentic dishes inspired by historical recipes. It is a hall which can house around 200 guests. Seats are organized in several rows on both sides of the central aisle. As you savor the imperial banquet, a grand, immersive live show will unfold just before your eyes on the aisle. Actors in traditional costumes will perform water sleeve dance, Peking Opera, court dance of Ming and Qing Dynasty.
Live Interactive Viewing Zone: The central kitchen is encased in glass walls with cameras installed at every cooking station. So visitors and diners can observe the food preparation process in real time via video.
How to Choose Between the Two Venues
Currently, there are two venues offering the same performances and dishes.
The first venue is larger, on the first floor, accommodating more people. From here, visitors can reach the Royal Cuisine Museum on the 2nd floor directly. Due to pillars on the sides of the stage, some seats in the second row may have obstructed views.
The second venue is on the 4th floor, featuring a more elegant and refined environment. Since pillars are placed behind the fourth row, so views are rarely blocked.
Ticket & Schedule Information:
Show time: First Venue: 12:00 PM / 6:38 PM; Second Venue: 12:30 PM / 7:08 PM
Price: CNY 398-698 per person for the lunch; CNY 498-798 for the dinner. The price are tiered by row, covering the costume rental, visiting the Royal Cuisine Museum, the live performance and the banquet.
Tips based on our real experience: It is recommended to arrive 1-1.5 hours early to allow ample time for costume fitting, and photos.
Location: No. 117, West Si Huan North Road, Haidian District, Beijing (50 meters west of the Sijiqing Bridge, on the south side of the road)
5. Beijing Imperial Cuisine (Gong Yan)
Another top-rated site for immersive historical dining, the Beijing Imperial Cuisine offers a unique journey into China's imperial past. Different from the Qing Dynasty dining and culture experiences in Yuxiandu, Beijing Imperial Cuisine is mainly inspired by the dining etiquette of the Zhou Dynasty. Here, you can expect the grandeur of imperial banquets with exquisite cuisine, traditional rituals, music, and various elegant performances themed around five dynasties: Spring and Autumn, Han, Tang, Song, and Ming.
What You Can Expect
Every detail of the hall is thoughtfully designed and exquisitely decorated in an ancient palace style. The staff will treat you like real royalty from the very first greeting. As you step into the restaurant, the staff in traditional costume will warmly welcome you with traditional courtesies. For a more immersive experience, you can rent a traditional costume and for hairstyling (additioanl 100 RMB per person) and have the staff assit you for makeup (additional 100 RMB per person) before the banquet.
Each course is served individually to each guest, and is accompanied by a live performance. To enrich the dining experience with storytelling, the staff will narrate the history and culture of each dish or its ingredients as it is presented. As the shows and menus are periodically updated to reflect different historical periods, the actural experience may differ based on your visiting seasons.
Tickets, Schedule Information & Tips from Insiders :
Location: No. 50 Qianmen Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
How to get to: Take Subway Line 8 to Qianmen Station (Exit G), then walk 5 minutes.
Ticket: CNY 398-498 for lunch, CNY 498-598 for dinner. The budget section is CNY 300 per person, but will be obstructed by pillars.
How to book the ticket: Book via the official WeChat account "宫宴" 3-7 days in advance. During peak seasons, it is adviced to call and reserve about 10 days in advance to secure a better seat.
Tel: 010-6525 8888 (Qianmen branch)
It is better to choose a seat on the right side, as the performers face more frequently on the right.
If you can do your own makeup, you can opt for just costume rental and hairstyling to save CNY100.
There are often queues for the makeup service, so, please arrive 2 hours early if you choose this service.
