Other hot places for night shows

Beijing has three hot bar streets catering for both tourists and expats, and they are Houhai area, Sanlitun area and the new booming bar street at Naluoguxiang. Every night, live music works wonders on visitors.

Other places for Peking Opera

Peking opera was extremely popular in the Qing Dynasty court and has come to be regarded as one of the cultural treasures of China. Major performance troupes are based in Beijing and every day the capital has ten or more places shows available. Most Peking Opera plays are unintelligible to the untrained viewer, but they are usually based on folk tales, famous novels and fairy tales and are a pleasure to watch if you know the basic story. Some of the bigger theaters offer subtitles in English and Chinese so even if you don't know the story you can still follow along. Venues where you can see Peking Opera performances are listed as:

Chang'an Grand Theater 長安大戲院

Add: 7 Jianguomennei Dajie, Dongcheng District東城區建內大街7號
Tel: 86-10-65101309; 65101310 (Only in Chinese)
Website: www.changantheater.com
Ticket: 50-800 yuan
English subtitle available

Mei Lanfang Grand Theater梅蘭芳大劇院

Add: 32 Ping'anli Dajie (southeast of Guanyuan Qiao), Xicheng District
西城區平安里西大街32號(官園橋東南角)
Tel: 86-10-58331288/1388

Experimental Theater of China National Peking Opera Company 國家京劇院實驗劇場

Add: F6, Plaza of the China National Peking Opera Company 國家京劇院大廈８層
22 Ping'anli Xidajie, Xicheng District, Xizhimen 西直門, 西城區平安里西大街22號
Tel: 86-10-58519688/89

Opera House of the National Center for Performing Arts 國家大劇院

Add: No.2, West Chang'an Avenue, Xicheng District 天安門西
Tickets and Information: 86-10-66550000

Regal Palace Chinese Restaurant 秦樂宮中餐廳

Add: Panjiayuan (South East Third Ring Road) 潘家園
1/F, Days Hotel and Suites, 27 Huaweili, Chaoyang District朝陽區華威里27號長安戴斯大飯店1層
Show time: Not available until March
Tel: 86-10-87789888 ext 262

(China.org.cn February 20, 2009)