The Shaolin monks from Songshan in Henan Province have gained an international reputation for their martial arts prowess. They perform regularly at the Li Yuan Theater.
China is renowned for the quality of its gymnasts, who perform breathtaking routines that showcase their unnerving flexibility. Displays of balance often involve props such as chairs, plates, and bicycles. Several Beijing theaters put on shows – for instance, the Chaoyang Theater; your hotel can help with reservations.
The easy availability of streaming services means that most Beijingers watch movies at home. Publicly screened films are subject to censorship, but foreign cultural institutes host screenings of independent and classic films. For the latest movies, head to Wanda Cineplex.
Shadow-puppet theater is an art form that has been performed more or less unchanged in China since the 3rd century AD. Shows employ many of the story lines and musical styles of Beijing Opera, while the puppets can be quite elaborate and colorfully dressed. The best place to catch a performance is at the China Puppet Art Theater (Anhua Xili, off Bei Sanhuan Lu) in Chaoyang District.
Beijing has a thriving music scene supported by a host of small music bars and clubs. Punk and metal thrive, and for those with a more eclectic taste, local folk rockers mix ethnic instrumentation with Western genres.
Soccer is big in Beijing. The local boys are Beijing Guo’an, who play in the Chinese Super League at the Workers’ Stadium. Book tickets ahead or you might have to buy from a tout outside. Second in popularity is basketball. Aoshen, the top team, plays at the Beijing Guang’an Gymnasium (Baiguang Lu;).
If you can, attend a traditional Chinese orchestral performance. Sections of unfamiliar plucked string, bowed string, woodwind, and percussion instruments compete for attention in swirling arrangements. The main venues are the Forbidden City Concert Hall in Zhong Shan Park and the National Center for the Performing Arts.
With its incomprehensible plots, unfamiliar sounds, and performances lasting up to three hours, Beijing Opera is an acquired taste. Everyone should try it at least once (see Beijing Opera).
Performances showcasing China’s 56 ethnic minorities, or nationalities, feature traditional costumes and dances. Some shows are truly outstanding, such as Yang Liping’s famous peacock dance.
Beijing is home to several excellent theaters, where a few established troupes perform regularly. Canonical works such as Lao She’s “Teahouse” are increasingly supplemented by big-budget Western musicals such as “Rent” and “Aladdin on Ice.” See the English-language press for what’s on.
Classic ornamental gardens (see Bei Hai Park) with a large lake for boating.
The largest afforested park (see Chaoyang Park) in Beijing.
Large green spaces and cypress trees, and the striking Altar of Earth (see Di Tan Park).
An hour’s drive northwest of the center but worth it for thickly wooded slopes dotted with pavilions (see Xiang Shan Park).
Subway: Forest Park
A 1,680-acre (680-hectare) green space, Beijing’s largest park (see Olympic Green) is home to three Olympic venues.
A hilly park (see Jing Shan Park) with a pavilion providing views of the roofscape of the Forbidden City to the south.
Subway: Tian Tan Dong Men
Lots of lakes, a kids’ amusement park, and an enchanting water-screen show.
One of Beijing’s oldest parks, (see Ri Tan Park) featuring an altar for imperial sacrifice.
This park (see Temple of Heaven Park) houses several historic structures and a vast expanse of well-tended gardens, including a rose garden.
Just outside the walls of the Forbidden City, Zhong Shan offers a respite from the crowds.
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