Events in Beijing
Art exhibitions
A selection of Art Galleries in Beijing and websites to get information about the events
Music events
A selection of Music Venues in Beijing and websites to get information about the events
Theater events
A selection of Theaters in Beijing and websites to get information about the events
A selection of Art Galleries in Beijing
UCCA Center for Contemporary Art (UCCA)
The anchor of Beijing’s art scene, UCCA is China’s leading independent institution for contemporary art, hosting world-class international and Chinese exhibitions.
Address: 798 Art District, No. 4 Jiuxianqiao Road, Chaoyang District.
Website: ucca.org.cn
Focus: Global contemporary masters (e.g., Picasso, Warhol) and top-tier Chinese artists.
Galleria Continua
An international powerhouse that brought the “Blue Chip” gallery model to Beijing. It is famous for its massive, high-ceilinged industrial space.
Address: 798 Art District, No. 2 Jiuxianqiao Road, Chaoyang District.
Website: galleriacontinua.com
Focus: Major international artists (Anish Kapoor, Ai Weiwei, Antony Gormley).
Red Brick Art Museum
Known as much for its stunning architecture and gardens as its art, this museum is built entirely from red bricks and offers a tranquil, immersive experience.
Address: Hegezhuang Village, Cuigezhuang Township, Chaoyang District.
Website: redbrickartmuseum.org
Focus: Large-scale installations and conceptual art.
Faurschou Foundation Beijing
A private Danish institution that presents high-quality solo exhibitions of some of the world’s most acclaimed artists.
Address: 798 Art District, No. 2 Jiuxianqiao Road, Chaoyang District.
Website: faurschou.com
Focus: Seminal works by artists like Louise Bourgeois and Bill Viola.
M WOODS Museum
A trendsetting museum founded by young collectors, often focusing on the intersection of contemporary art and digital/pop culture.
Address: 798 Art District (D-06) OR Longfusi (Dongcheng District location).
Website: mwoods.org
Focus: Eclectic mix from Renaissance works to immersive video installations.
- Artforum (Professional & comprehensive gallery listings): https://artguide.artforum.com/artguide/place/beijing
- Artsy (High-res previews of specific artworks in shows): https://www.artsy.net/shows/beijing-china
A selection of music venues in Beijing
National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA)
Known affectionately as “The Giant Egg” this is China’s flagship venue for the performing arts. It houses an Opera House, a Concert Hall, and a Theater.
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Address: No. 2 West Chang’an Avenue, Xicheng District (next to Tiananmen Square).
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Website: https://m.chncpa.org/
- Focus: World-class symphony orchestras, opera, ballet, and traditional Chinese music.
Forbidden City Concert Hall
Located inside the beautiful Zhongshan Park, this hall is famous for its exceptional acoustics and its “royal” surroundings.
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Address: Inside Zhongshan Park, Xicheng District (West of Tiananmen).
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Website: https://theatrebeijing.com/concert_halls/forbidden_city_concert_hall/
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Focus: Classical music, chamber music, and the “Gateway to Music” summer festival.
Beijing Concert Hall
The first professional concert hall in China, it remains a prestigious venue for acoustic performances without electronic amplification.
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Address: No. 1 Bei Xinhua Street, Xicheng District.
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Website: bjconcerthall.cn
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Focus: Solo recitals, classical quartets, and symphony performances.
Beijing Performing Arts Centre (BPAC)
A new, stunning architectural landmark in Tongzhou (the “sub-center”), designed to look like sails on the Grand Canal.
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Address: Building 1 & 2, Yard 1, Lvxin Road, Tongzhou District.
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Website: bpac.org.cn
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Focus: Modern productions, international touring companies, and symphony concerts.
Blue Note Beijing
The Beijing branch of the world-famous New York jazz club, offering a high-end dining and listening experience.
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Address: B1/F, Block F, No. 23 Qianmen East Street, Dongcheng District.
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Website: bluenotechina.com
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Focus: International jazz stars, soul, funk, and fusion.
Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Centre
A modern, comprehensive complex that is the go-to spot for Broadway-style musicals and large-scale stage plays.
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Address: No. 9 Tianqiao South Street, Xicheng District.
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Website: https://theatrebeijing.com/theatres/tianqiao_center
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Focus: Musicals (e.g., Les Misérables, Cats), dance drama, and concerts.
Websites where to find information about music events in Beijing:
- Damai (大麦): (the primary ticketing platform for all major concerts and theater in mainland China; best used via their mobile app): : damai.cn
- 247Tickets (A user-friendly English ticketing site for expats and tourists): 247tickets.com
A selection of Theaters in Beijing
The Opera House in NCPA
While the NCPA as a whole is a multi-venue landmark, the Opera House is the specific crown jewel for large-scale dance dramas and ballet.
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Address: No. 2 West Chang’an Avenue, Xicheng District.
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Website: https://m.chncpa.org/
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Focus: International ballet companies (e.g., Bolshoi, Teatro alla Scala), National Ballet of China, and high-production Chinese dance dramas.
Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Centre
Opened in 2015, this is Beijing’s most modern comprehensive theatrical complex. It is specifically designed to host the most technically demanding international productions.
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Address: No. 9 Tianqiao South Street, Xicheng District.
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Website: https://theatrebeijing.com/theatres/tianqiao_center
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Focus: Contemporary dance, Broadway-style musicals, and innovative modern theater.
Beijing Poly Theatre
A prestigious venue known for hosting the “Beijing Music Festival” and many of the city’s most important touring theatrical plays and modern dance performances.
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Address: No. 14 Dongzhimen South Street, Dongcheng District.
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Website: polytheatre.com
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Focus: Contemporary Chinese dance (like Yang Liping’s Peacock), experimental theater, and international stage plays.
Tianqiao Theatre
Not to be confused with the “Performing Arts Centre” nearby, this is a historic professional theater and the primary home of the National Ballet of China.
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Address: No. 30 Beiwei Road, Xicheng District.
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Website: https://theatrebeijing.com/theatres/tianqiao_theatre/
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Focus: Classical ballet and traditional Chinese opera and dance.
Mei Lanfang Grand Theatre
Named after the legendary Peking Opera master, this theater is a masterpiece of glass and steel designed specifically for the nuanced movements of traditional Chinese performance arts.
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Address: 32 Ping’anli West Avenue, Xicheng District.
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Website: bjmlfdjy.cn
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Focus: Peking Opera, traditional Chinese dance, and modern experimental drama.
Where to find information about the upcoming theater performances
- Damai (大麦): (the primary ticketing platform for all major concerts and theater in mainland China; best used via their mobile app): damai.cn
- Theatre Beijing: (A comprehensive English-language portal specifically for theater and dance): theatrebeijing.com/whats_on
- 247Tickets (A user-friendly English ticketing site for expats and tourists): 247tickets.com
