Liyuan Theater – Beijing’s Premier Peking Opera Teahouse Theater
Address: 175 Yong’an Road, Xi Cheng District, Beijing
Website: www.liyuan-theatre.com
Telephone: (+86) 135-2288-6608
Exterior view of Liyuan Theater
The Liyuan Theater is located inside the Beijing Qianmen Jianguo Hotel. It was jointly founded in October 1990 by the hotel and the Jingju Theater Company of Beijing. Known as the birthplace of Peking Opera, Liyuan Theater is Beijing’s first teahouse-style theater and the most prestigious venue for Peking Opera performances.
The theater comprises three sections: a performance hall, a showroom, and an exhibition hall. The main stage of the performance hall features couplets written by famous Chinese dramatist Weng Ouhong (1908–1994) and calligrapher Liu Bingsen (1937–2005). The auditorium seats up to 800 people and is surrounded by eight large Peking Opera facial masks, as well as painted folding screens depicting opera characters. To preserve traditional theater customs, some seating areas are arranged around baxian tables — old-fashioned square tables that seat eight people — allowing the audience to enjoy snacks and tea while watching a performance.
The showroom presents visitors with the 200-year history of Peking Opera’s development. The exhibition hall sells Peking Opera handicrafts and souvenirs, and visitors can also have photos taken in Peking Opera costumes with painted facial makeup.
The theater is particularly popular among international tourists, as the auditorium is equipped with simultaneous interpretation devices and provides English subtitles. The performances for foreign audiences are often adapted from classic Peking Opera pieces and shortened into more compact programs. Former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, former Japanese Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu, and former Estonian President Lennart Meri have all enjoyed performances at this theater.
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