National Centre for the Performing Arts

Introducing National Centre for the Performing Arts
Located in the Xicheng District, Beijing, the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), colloquially described as "The Giant Egg", is an arts centre containing an opera house in China. As the one of new 16 scene landmarks in Beijing, the National Centre for the Performing Arts not only greatly improves the ecological environment of surrounding regions, but embodies the idea of harmonious communion in each other between with the human and art, human and nature.

National Centre for the Performing Arts Fast Facts
• Chinese Name: Guojia Da Juyuan 国家大剧院
• Best Time to Visit: All year around
• Recommended Visiting Hours: About 1 to 2 hours
• Things to Do: Photography, Art Appreciation
• Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 09:00-17:00
• Entrance Fee: ¥30/person
• Address: No.2 West Chang’an Street, Xicheng District, Beijing

What to expect at National Centre for the Performing Arts

Construction Details
The main building of National Centre for the Performing Arts with an ellipsoid dome of titanium and glass surrounded by an artificial lake, can accommodate people in three halls and covers almost 12,000 m² in size. The National Centre for the Performing Arts planned cost of the theatre was 2.688 billion yuan, but the total cost rose to more than CNY3.2 billion when the construction had completed. The dome of National Centre for the Performing Arts is 46 meters high designed by French architect Paul Andreu. The construction started in December 2001 and the inaugural concert was held in December 2007. National Centre for the Performing Arts was designed as an iconic feature and combination of tradition and modernity, romance and reality, which would be immediately recognizable.

Three Performance Venues
The Opera House, the Concert Hall and the Theater are the three performance venues inside the center. They are separated houses, yet connected by air corridors.

The Opera House with golden color as its main hue is the most magnificent building inside it. The three-layer structure of the stage makes it have possibly the best resilience and provides the best protect to the dancers' feet.

The Concert Hall sits in the east side of the Opera House where the large-scale symphonies and Chinese traditional music are performed. One thing cannot be missed that the pipe organ placed in the hall with 94 stops and an impressive array of 6,500 pipes is the largest one in Asia. It is the most valuable treasure in the Concert Hall.

The Theater has a distinct Chinese traditional style, where traditional Chinese operas, stage plays and national songs and dances primarily perform.

How to get to National Centre for the Performing Arts

By Metro
• Take Metro Line 1 and get off at Tiananmen Xi Station (Exit C). There is an underground passage to the theater directly.

By Bus
• Take bus No1, 5, 52, 99, or Sightseeing Bus 1 or 2 and get off at Tiananmen Xi Station.
• Take bus No. 52 and get off at Shibei Hutong Station.

Additional travel advice on National Centre for the Performing Arts
• The Center is closed on Monday expect Chinese public holidays.
• The Center could be temporarily closed for visit due to rehearsals of some performances or other activities.
• Camera tripod or huge/medium sized professional DV devices are not allowed to be brought into the center. 
• The use of flashlights or related lighting equipment is prohibited.