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 长安大戏院

Add: 7 Jianguomennei Dajie, Dongcheng District东城区建内大街7号
Tel: 86-10-65101309; 65101310 (Only in Chinese)
Website: www.changantheater.com
Ticket: 50-800 yuan
English subtitle available

Mei Lanfang Grand Theater梅兰芳大剧院

Add: 32 Ping'anli Dajie (southeast of Guanyuan Qiao), Xicheng District
西城区平安里西大街32号(官园桥东南角)
Tel: 86-10-58331288/1388

Experimental Theater of China National Peking Opera Company 国家京剧院实验剧场

Add: F6, Plaza of the China National Peking Opera Company 国家京剧院大厦８层
22 Ping'anli Xidajie, Xicheng District, Xizhimen 西直门, 西城区平安里西大街22号
Tel: 86-10-58519688/89

Opera House of the National Center for Performing Arts 国家大剧院

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

Regal Palace Chinese Restaurant 秦乐宫中餐厅

Add: Panjiayuan (South East Third Ring Road) 潘家园
1/F, Days Hotel and Suites, 27 Huaweili, Chaoyang District朝阳区华威里27号长安戴斯大饭店1层
Show time: Not available until March
Tel: 86-10-87789888 ext 262

(China.org.cn February 20, 2009)