Why National Center for the Performing Arts is special ?

The National Grand Theatre, also known as Beijing National Center for the Performing Arts (Chinese Name : 国家大剧院), surround by artificial lake, the spectacular glass and the titanium egg-shaped Opera House, designed by French architect Paul Andreu.

The National Grand Theatre includes the main building (containing three performing venues: the Opera House, the Concert Hall, the Theater), the underwater corridors, the underground garage, the artificial lake and the green space. Now The National Grand Theatre is believed to be the deepest architecture in Beijing (the deepest place of the center is -32.5 meters, equivalent to the height of a 10-floor building.). It presents a sharp contrast to its surroundings with its oval exterior, which makes it very eye-catching.

Source: http://theatrebeijing.com/

What to explore at National Center for the Performing Arts?

Arts Exhibition

Objects, pictures, models and diverse perspectives are catered for a more comprehensive interpretation of different kinds of arts; touch screens, LCD TVs, animation, video and other modern means are meant to promote in-depth communication between art and people in a more sensual and vivid way. Here we have an oil station to empower the public with basic know-how and help them find more excitement in their lives rather than merely an exhibition.

Exhibition Halls, North Underwater Corridor

The East and West Exhibition Halls, with an area of 1,200 square meters each, are located on both sides of the north underwater corridor. The nearly closed art space in the heart of the city creates a rare quiet corner where visitors can leisurely appreciate the joys and sorrows on the stage.

Art Gallery

Modern Art Museum is the largest exhibition hall in the Centre and is located at the top of the south side of the Opera House. Since August 2008, 'Shoushan Stone Carving Exhibition', 'Exhibition Commemorating the Art Achievement in the Thirtieth Anniversary of Reform and Opening-up', 'Anniversary Exhibition of the NCPA" have been held. Today, the regular exhibition – 'Marvel Blooms Here - Arts Achievement Exhibition of the NCPA' - reveals the growing path of the NCPA in the last two years through detailed statistics, pictures and objects.

Ring Corridor, Opera House

On the ground floor of the north side of the Opera House, a metal net built around seems to be a natural barrier to block the noise from the public hall and also builds a unique space and a natural exhibition platform. Along the ring corridor, the bronze doors by the east and west end tailor this arc of vision in vigorous harmony; the net in the north covered with twisting texture echoes well with the silver decorative aluminum pattern of bluegrass on the red wall on the south; wall lamps embedded on each wall lighten the corridor through the dotted glass decorations, leaving the marble floor of night rose in even deeper serenity.

Art Exhibition Room

Arts Exhibition Room, located in the southwest side of F 1 of the Opera House, has an area of 100 square meters. It mainly displays intangible cultural heritages of China, while excellent works of visual art are also presented. Piyingxi (leather-silhouette show) interpreting the ancient and modern through shadows, dancing ceramic figurines of the Tang Dynasty that date back glamorous style of the Han and Tang Dynasties, silk figure that is full of "Beijing Flavor" and merry "point color paper-cut" from Weixian County of Hebei province... the Chinese folk art treasure displays are continuing to arouse the awareness of the whole society to the protection of the intangible cultural heritages and further promote the development of our folklore culture. Oversea exhibitions such as "Haydn's Life of Music" have also become an important channel for cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world.

Source: http://www.chncpa.org/

How to get to National Center for the Performing Arts?

Subway: Subway Line 1: get off at Tiananmen West Station and get out of the station from Exit C (southwest exit). There is an underground passageway to the theater directly.

Bus Route:

Bus 99, Zhuan 2, 90, 52, 1, 10, 728, Zhuan 1, 22, 205, 5 to Tiananmen West Station

Bus 5 to Nan Chang Jie Station

Bus 10, 22 to Shi Bei Hu Tong Station

Source: http://www.travelchinaguide.com/