CHINESE OPERA SHOWS
Sichuan face-changing, Peking opera and the teahouse variety bills that carry both. These 15 are priced by seat row, with a note on which have English surtitles and which are an hour of pure spectacle.
At Shufeng Yayun Teahouse in Chengdu Culture Park, you’ll watch a 90-minute Sichuan Opera show filled with face-changing, puppets, music, costumes, and comic acts. Tea is included, with snack and VIP options available. Choose an 18:00 or 20:00 performance, and add hotel pickup if needed.
“Absolutely loved it. So much talent and beautiful culture, it is breathtaking.”
At Chengdu’s Shu Feng Ya Yun theater, you’ll watch a 90-minute evening program of Sichuan opera, face changing, folk arts, and comedy. The show begins at 8 p.m. and includes tea and snacks. Depending on your ticket, you can add costume dressing, a back massage, ear cleaning, or a theater souvenir.
“Very nice way to experience the local culture. There is free tea that is served and also the opportunity to order some local desserts. Great atmosphere, strongly recommended if you visit Chengdu.”
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.”
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.”
Spend an evening at Beijing’s Liyuan Theatre with VIP seating, private hotel pickup, tea, snacks, and a roughly one-hour Peking Opera performance. Your driver takes you door to door, while guides such as Cathy explain the stories, makeup, costumes, and music. Expect several short scenes rather than one complete opera.
“Unfortunately the opera event was not available. Cathy from the tour agency recommended an acrobatic show instead, which was amazing! Well worth seeing. The driver picked me up easily and came into the theatre foyer with me to check that I knew where my seat was. The driver also waited for me in the foyer after the event. Very smooth, no problems.”
At Shu Feng Ya Yun Teahouse in Chengdu, you watch a 90-minute Sichuan Opera show with face changing, fire-spitting, gongs, drums, and traditional tea service. Ayen’s Panda Travel offers English and Chinese support, VIP, Premium, and Standard seating, plus one free choice of ear cleaning, a shoulder massage, dessert, or a panda souvenir.
“lo spettacolo è molto bello, soprattutto il gioco di ombre e il cambio volto. abbiamo scelto come omaggio incluso la pulizia delle orecchie e il souvenir che è una graziosa borsa con il panda. consigliato :))”
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.”
Spend about 90 minutes at Chengdu’s Shu Feng Ya Yun Tea House in Culture Park, watching Sichuan opera, face changing, fire breathing, music, and comic skits. A $27 ticket includes admission, with tea and some traditional extras available during the show. Hotel pickup is optional, though the driver speaks Chinese only.
“Great Service from driver, the performance is beautiful and sometimes hilarious but definitely an art form. Good Service from the staff of the opera house, included are tea the whole performance long and beyond a dessert, souvenir, neck and shoulder massage or traditional ear cleaningAuto-translated”
Spend 80 minutes at Shufeng Yayun, a traditional pear-garden theater near Qingyang Palace in Chengdu. Sip covered-bowl tea while watching Sichuan opera, puppetry, shadow play, rolling lights, fire-breathing, and face-changing. Your ticket includes tea and a small extra, such as a massage, dessert, souvenir, or costume try-on, depending on seating class.
“super spectacle avec plusieurs parties variées et très bien réalisé, incroyable. et en bonus un massage (quant au billet, super facile à récupérer)”
Spend 90 minutes at Chengdu’s Shu Feng Ya Yun Theatre watching colorful Sichuan opera, singing, hand shadows, and the famous Bian Lian face-changing act. An English-speaking ticket attendant, including Daisy or Lily when assigned, meets you at the entrance, provides your seat and tea, and can help with the evening. Hotel pickup is optional.
“Great show showcasing the various Sichuan performance genres including opera, hand shadows, face-changing etc. a local guide (Daisy) met us at the theater with tickets and bottles of water. Daisy accompanied us to our seats and made sure our needs were met prior to the show.”
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.”
Spend about 70 minutes at Chengdu’s Liyuan Theater watching Sichuan opera, lightning-fast face-changing, fire-breathing, puppet theater, shadow hand arts, spinning tops, and kung-fu tea pouring. The $19 admission covers the show only. Snacks, cover-bowl tea, costumes, VIP seats, and the optional tea-house experience cost extra.
“Bellissimo spettacolo. Fuori di testa farlo pagare 121 €! È sufficiente andare 1 ora prima al teatro Liyuan e il biglietto per le prime file si paga euro 10”
Spend an evening at Shufeng Yayun Sichuan Opera House in Chengdu, where traditional opera, acrobatics, and the famous face-changing act share the stage. Your ticket includes gaiwan tea, table snacks, and one choice of massage, ear cleaning, dessert, or a cultural souvenir. Chinese and English staff can help you find the entrance and exchange your ticket.
“A lovely evening out watching some traditional Chinese performances. The face-changing was brilliant at the end.”
Reserve a 2-hour Sichuan Opera performance in central Chengdu, beginning at 8:00 pm. You’ll see singing, martial arts, acrobatics, local instruments, shadow theater, and the famous face-changing act. Advance booking gives you a guaranteed seat, though the exact position can affect how much you see.
“Definetly a recommendation! A cool and interesting experience. They also have english subtiles on big screens which makes it easier to understand if you dont speak Chinese”
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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