Our Top 13 Live Music Experiences in Beijing

1.Traditional Cultural Show Peking Opera Tickets

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 66 reviews · 1 - 2.5 hours · from $28Our pick

At Beijing’s Liyuan Theatre, you’ll watch a one-hour Peking Opera performance with English subtitles at the Jianguo Hotel Qianmen. Arrive 30 minutes early to exchange your e-ticket and possibly watch the actors apply their striking makeup and change costumes. The daily program varies, and seating may be section-based, so early arrival can help.

“Suggest to defiantly get there early to get a good spot as the seats are not reserved, sections are. They have teleprompters in Chinese and English, but the performance needs very little explanation. They do sell drinks about 7USD for a glass of wine. They have a dinner option. However, walk the block found great value to eat before or after, same steer as the metro no need to cross the large streets.”

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2.Liyuan Theatre Beijing Opera Show Tickets

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 60 reviews · 1 hour · from $39

Meet staff at Qianmen Jianguo Hotel 30 minutes before the 19:30 show, then take your seat inside Liyuan Theatre. You can watch performers apply their striking make-up before the curtain rises. The one-hour Beijing Opera includes English subtitles, musical storytelling, acrobatic movement, and optional tea and snacks in the blue seating zone.

“it was somewhat special. Not something I would recommend to others to be honest.”

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4.Liyuan Theatre Peking Opera Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 26 reviews · 1 hour · from $29

Spend one hour at Beijing’s Liyuan Theatre watching classic Peking Opera scenes, including The Heavenly Maiden Scattering Flowers, The Crossroads, and Farewell My Concubine. The 7:30pm show uses elaborate costumes, singing, dance, acting, music, and martial arts. You can book a ticket only or add a central Beijing hotel transfer.

“It was a performance that captured almost all the elements of Peking opera in a nutshell. It included romantic scenes, battle scenes, and dramatic scenes. It also featured fantastic acrobatics. That's how I envisioned this performance, and it was exactly that. It also featured stunning color schemes and an interesting presentation of the artist's preparations for the performance. I also want to emphasize your very kind support in helping me get to the venue where the performance took place.”

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5.Must-See Peking Opera at Liyuan Theatre Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 9 reviews · 1 - 3 hours · from $37

Spend an evening at Beijing’s Liyuan Theatre watching a roughly one-hour Peking Opera performance by the China National Peking Opera Company. You’ll see elaborate costumes, painted faces, singing, acting, and traditional stories, with English program notes to help follow the scenes. Choose your seat, or add a Beijing roast duck or vegetarian dinner before the show.

“The actors were excellent, but the theater is rather old.”

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6.Beijing Liyuan Theater Peking Opera Ticket Booking

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 7 reviews · from $30

At Beijing’s Liyuan Theater, you’ll spend about an hour watching Peking Opera, with singing, recitation, acting, acrobatics, colorful costumes, and traditional stories. Arrive for the 7:30 pm performance, watch performers apply their makeup, and follow English translations during the show. Upstairs tickets include snacks. No guide or hotel transfer is provided.

“Its a cool experience but we think is a little overpriced, nice that they have subtitles in english.”

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7.Beijing Culture Event: Tea Ceremony, Music Show, Calligraphy

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · from $79

Meet your bilingual guide at Hua Gong Station for a 2.5-hour cultural session featuring a tea ceremony, private guqin performance, hands-on guqin practice, calligraphy, Hanfu dress, photos, and traditional ritual. The group is limited to eight, and Sylvia may meet you at the station entrance to help you find the art center.

“This cultural event in Beijing was a wonderful experience. We discovered the elegance of the traditional tea ceremony, enjoyed a private guqin concert, and even had the chance to try playing it ourselves. We also got an introduction to Chinese calligraphy, which was both fun and calming. A skilled English-Chinese translator made everything easy to follow and understand. A perfect way to explore Chinese culture in an authentic and engaging setting!”

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8.Night Tour Of Peking Opera Show / Transfer

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 5 reviews · 3 - 10 hours · from $166

Meet your private guide and driver at your Beijing hotel at 18:20, then ride to a 19:30 Peking Opera performance lasting until 20:40. You’ll see painted faces, bold costumes, dance, mime, martial arts, and live traditional music. A private vehicle returns you to your hotel afterward. Dinner is not included.

“Perfecta. Los dos taxistas super atentos en todo momento. Poniendo facilidades tanto en traslado como a la hora de señalizar el hotel / teatro mediante fotos. La mesa en la que estuvimos fue perfecta y aunque fuera compartida, estaba muy céntrica. El show fascinante. Volvería sin dudarlo y repetiría. Brunch + té durante el espectáculo.”

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9.Peking Opera at Liyuan Theater Tickets

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · from $49

Meet at Qianmen Jianguo Hotel at 7:30 pm for a one-hour Peking Opera performance at Liyuan Theater. Choose upstairs or downstairs seating, possibly see performers apply traditional face makeup, and follow the story with English subtitles. Dinner is not included.

“Opera is not for everyone. I am glad that I was there and I loved it . The singing, dancing, martial arts, music and performance ，I thought it was beautiful and fabulous. It is an easy way to know the Chinese culture. Surprisingly, there was English subtile which helped me a lot.”

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10.Liyuan Theater Beijing Opera Show Tickets

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $40

Spend one hour at Beijing’s Liyuan Theater watching traditional Peking Opera with elaborate makeup, costumes, symbolic movement, singing, acrobatics, and live Chinese instruments. Meet staff at Qianmen Jianguo Hotel 30 minutes before the 19:30 show, collect your tickets, and receive help finding your seats. Tea and snacks are included.

“May is a talented guide which lead us effectively through the Summer Palace and The Great Wall. She was very knowledgeable about the history and culture of the places we visited and we had a very good time together.”

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11.Beijing Opera Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $39

Spend one evening at Liyuan Theatre inside Qianmen Jianguo Hotel for a 60-minute Peking Opera performance starting at 7:30 pm. You will see a colorful show set to traditional music and receive a booking reference for entry. Arrive 30 minutes early. No guide, transport, food, or drinks are included.

“The Peking Opera is an UNESCO cultural heritage show. It is recognised for not just the performing arts but the history and heritage too. The show is colourful, thoughtful and a great way to spend part of an evening. Miss Li arranged the tickRead more”

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12.Liyuan Theatre Peking Opera Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $39

Book a 7:30 pm Peking Opera performance at Beijing’s Liyuan Theatre, inside Qianmen Jianguo Hotel. The one-hour show features professional singers, elaborate makeup and costumes, and English subtitles to help you follow the plot. You can arrange optional hotel transfer, but the basic ticket does not include transportation.

“Very nice cultural experience. English subtitles give a good idea of the plot and costumes are Beautiful. The activity provider ms. Li was extremely helpful: all the details were meticulously provided ahead of time so we didn’t have any proRead more”

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13.Private Tour: Shichahai, Nanluoguxiang and Peking Opera&dinner

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2 reviews · from $180

Start at 4 pm with a private English-speaking guide in Nanluoguxiang and Shichahai. Walk historic hutong lanes, eat Peking duck with drinks, then watch Peking Opera with music, martial arts, and traditional dance. Warren is one named guide associated with this experience. Hotel pickup and private transport are included, but you arrange your own return.

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