Live shows · CHINA SHOWS
The 15 best china shows you can book tonight, with the price of a seat, how long the show runs and who it suits. Number one is top for a reason, so start there.
Spend one evening at Beijing’s Red Theatre watching a fast-moving hour of Chinese acrobatics, graceful choreography, music, lights, and startling stunts. Your actual e-ticket arrives by WhatsApp, WeChat, or iMessage on the morning of the show. Plan to arrive early and use the subway.
“Amazing skills-our 7 and 9 year olds were glued to their seats throughout the performance”
Book a one-hour Shanghai ERA Theatre performance for a fast-moving display of Chinese acrobatics, from plate spinning and shoulder ballet to high chairs and motorcycles in a steel cage. English-speaking coordinator Li sends your theatre QR code and clear directions through WhatsApp, iMessage, or WeChat.
“The Show very nice to watch, lots of colors and acrobats with amazing skills. The booking process is easy with WhatsApp, very quick as well- someone reacted within minutes to our booking and very kindly provided us with great tickets- we booked B-Seats and sat in the 3rd row. Also we got lots of information from them about how to get there, where to eat and when to arrive. All of that was very helpful!”
At Shanghai Circus World, ERA2: Intersection of Time combines Chinese acrobatics, martial arts, music, costumes, and special effects. Choose among five seating categories, then watch the show move from ancient porcelain to the Maglev Train and Shenzhou 5. Select carefully between the 60-minute and 100-minute versions.
“A really fun and amazing show for the whole family. Kids were just enthralled and amazed by each act. A great venue to see the show, really no bad seats in this semicircle theatre. Highly recommended”
Head to Beijing’s Red Theatre on Xingfu Street, show your reference number and name, and collect your ticket 30 minutes before the performance. You’ll watch a one-hour production of acrobatics, flexibility, props, costumes, and tightly timed routines. Coordinators such as Dragon and Wang may help with directions and Chinese ticket details.
“The booking process was very smooth. I was contacted on WhatsApp on how to obtain the tickets at the red theatre and given my limited mandarin, I just showed the lady at the ticket counter the WhatsApp message and obtained the ticRead more”
At Shufeng Yayun Teahouse in Chengdu Culture Park, you’ll watch a 90-minute Sichuan opera show built around bian lian face-changing, stick puppets, masks, music, and comic stage action. Tea and snacks are included, while selected tickets add a massage, ear cleaning, dessert, souvenir, or costume experience. Andy’s team can arrange pickup.
“We booked with Andy for his company to arrange our ticket and it was seamless. I received the ticket code the day before, went to the ticket machine outside the opera and the tickets were available straight away - could not have been easier. The show itself is an experience! The face changing is very impressive but is right at the end. Tea is kept topped up and the back massage was a welcome bonus.”
Spend one hour at Beijing’s Red Theatre watching Chinese acrobatics set to music and colored lights. Shows run at 4:20 and 5:40 p.m. daily. You can arrange central hotel transfer, while Sunflower Tours China sends the valid theatre QR code by WhatsApp.
“We booked at the last minute and lily was very helpful with all the details to ensure that we arrived at the theatre in time. We even had a complementary tea awaiting us ! The show was excellent. An incredible performance. Really worth going to see. Highly recommend. Must visit in Beijing.”
You’ll watch Beijing’s Golden Mask Dynasty Show, a theatrical story of a queen’s love told through dance, music, costume, rotating scenery, and a dramatic water scene. Cathy or another English-speaking contact helps coordinate the evening, while a private driver handles hotel pickup, theater arrival, and the return trip.
“Theatre was clean and modern. The show was amazing! There is a water scene- which is spectacular! A great trip”
Spend an evening with a Beijing roast duck meal and a performance at Chaoyang Theatre. Pickup is available from hotels inside the Fourth Ring Road, with VIP seating advertised for the show. Guides such as Sam, Cynthia, and William Kuang have led past departures, but the restaurant experience can vary.
“I found it very odd that I was the only person who was booked for this tour. It was unfortunate as I was traveling alone on business and was hoping to meet others for a dinner together. Much to my dismay, I attended the show which was fantastic - don't get me wrong! and then went to dinner, by myself, in an empty restaurant. Awkward. The guide was friendly but didn't really generate conversation nor talk about the areas we were driving through. He spent most of the time in the van talking in Mandarin to the driver. If others had attended, this would have been a great tour. Unfortunately,…”
At Shu Feng Ya Yun, you watch a 20:00 Sichuan Opera and folk-art performance lasting about 90 minutes. Expect famous local stage traditions, the quick-change face-changing act, complimentary tea and snacks, and optional costume dressing, massage, ear cleaning, or a theater souvenir.
“Una absoluta turistada similar a cualquier espectáculo nocturno en un hotel de medio pelo.”
Spend 60 minutes at Beijing’s Red Theatre watching plate spinning, jujitsu, partner stunts, high-chair balancing, ball skills, and shoulder ballet. Choose a 4:00 or 5:40 pm show, arrive 20 minutes early, and receive the theatre QR ticket by WhatsApp, iMessage, or WeChat on the day.
“It was amazing, really thrilling to watch all the acts. I strongly recommend it to everyone else visiting Beijing, china.”
At Shufeng Yayun Teahouse in Chengdu Culture Park, you’ll watch a 90-minute Sichuan Opera variety show with face changing, fire spitting, puppetry, shadow play, music, dance, and acrobatics. Tea is included, while VIP options may add front seats, snacks, massage, ear grooming, or costume photos.
“The opera is fascinating experience in Chengdu. I especially like the hand figures and the face changing. Worth a visit.”
Spend about an hour at Liyuan Theatre in Beijing watching traditional Peking Opera with English subtitles. Arrive early to see performers apply elaborate makeup and change costumes. Your $28 ticket includes the show and an English theatre guide, but not dinner, drinks, or a guide.
“The music was very very loud. But the story was nice and the fact that we could take pictures and have snacks inside.”
This four-hour Shanghai evening outing pairs a 90-minute acrobatics performance with nighttime stops at People’s Square, the Bund, the French Concession, and Xintiandi. Hotel pickup, transport, a local guide, and show admission are included. The show is the dependable highlight, while the city tour can vary with traffic and guide.
“Great evening. Acrobats were very skilled. Good seats. Walk through French Concession was special.”
Meet your private English-speaking guide and driver at 5 p.m. for a Chinese dinner, then watch a 90-minute acrobatics show at Shanghai Circus World. Guides Lily and Tony have been praised for personal service, flexible pickup, and making sure groups get enough food.
“Was pleasantly surprised by the personal nature of this tour. Had a personal guide to take my wife and I around and had the best time. I would recommend Lily for any tour”
Choose a private Beijing itinerary built around the Temple of Heaven. Guides such as Mina, Jay, and Miko offer English or Chinese commentary, with options for private cars, subway travel, acrobatics, Peking duck, the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, and the Summer Palace.
“Absolutely fantastic tour! Mina, our tour guide, made this experience perfect. First, she made it convenient to meet her outside the gate and had all tickets ready for different attractions within the temple of heaven. Her tour was both enjoyable and educational, and at an appropriate pace, showing us the key highlights and responding to all our questions. At the end, she was kind enough to recommend places for food and shopping in Beijing. Overall, it was an excellent experience and would definitely recommend.”
Pick a stage, a dinner table or a dance floor.
