China · SHOW
The good shows go weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and where they differ.
Spend 60 minutes at Beijing’s Red Theater watching high-energy Chinese acrobatics, daring stunts, light, music, and graceful choreography. Your booking includes theater entry, while the actual e-ticket arrives by WhatsApp, WeChat, or iMessage on the morning of the show. Temple of Heaven is nearby.
“Amazing skills-our 7 and 9 year olds were glued to their seats throughout the performance”
At Shanghai Circus World, ERA2: Intersection of Time combines Chinese acrobatics, martial arts, music, costumes, projections, and stunts. You’ll see porcelain, silk, the Maglev Train, Shenzhou 5, and the famous motorcycle sphere. Choose from five seating categories, then redeem your mobile voucher at the theater.
“Enjoyed all the death defying acts. They had us is awe. Would definitely recommend this show to everyone.”
Head to Beijing’s Red Theatre at No. 44 Xingfu Street for a one-hour acrobatic production featuring young performers, difficult stunts, synchronized routines, props, costumes, and stage projections. Collect your tickets 30 minutes before showtime with your reference number and name. Public transport makes arrival practical.
“The performance was very good and enjoyable. The theater is small so any seat is good. I had second row and actually the further back seats are better. Only wished it was longer for the price. It only lasted an hour.”
Spend 90 minutes at Shufeng Yayun Teahouse in Chengdu Culture Park watching Sichuan opera, hand puppets, mask changes, music, and comic stage acts. Tea comes with your ticket, while selected VIP options add a massage, ear cleaning, simple opera costume, dessert, or souvenir. Hotel pickup is optional.
“This show was absolutely incredible. Pick up was smooth and confirmed the day before. The back massage was great, tea service ran all night, and so did the snacks. Each performer was so fun to watch.”
You’ll watch a five-scene Tang Dynasty music and dance production about Empress Wu Zetian, with English and Chinese screen text. Choose show-only, dumpling dinner, transfer, or combined options. Dinner brings varied sweet and savory dumplings, while the theater assigns seats, often closer to the stage with the meal option.
“The show was out of this world. The dumpling meal was great. Please note that there is no guide in sight throughout the evening.”
See a 60-minute Chinese acrobatics show at Beijing’s Red Theatre, with plate spinning, music, lights, and skilled performers. Choose the 4:20 or 5:40 performance, arrive 20 minutes early, and receive the theatre QR code by WhatsApp. Central hotel transfer is available as an add-on.
“Li arranged a fabulous seat with a clear view right in the middle of the row & sent comprehensive instructions before hand. The show is amazing. Would highly recommend.”
You’ll watch Beijing’s Golden Mask Dynasty Show, a theatrical love story filled with costumes, dance, music, rotating scenery, and a dramatic water scene. Cathy or another local coordinator arranges your tickets, while a private driver collects you at a Beijing hotel within the Fourth Ring Road and returns you afterward.
“We had an amazing evening watching the stunts at the Beijing Red Theatre Acrobatic Show. A must-see for anyone visiting Beijing. We were a little worried about the timing as traffic was quite bad, but Driver Wu was fantastic—he got us Read more”
Enjoy a Beijing roast duck meal, then watch a 90-minute acrobatics show at Chaoyang Theatre. Hotel pickup and return transportation are included within the 4th Ring Road. Guides such as Sam, William, Michael, and Cynthia have received praise, though the restaurant and seating can vary.
“The acrobatic show was nice and it was very neat to see the strength and talent of the performers. Our tour guide, Michael, hardly spoke to us during the ride to and from the show. After the show, we were driven a ways to a duck restaurant where we were sat at a table in the hallway, given our food and ignored. We were given the option of coke, water or beer but if you got beer you couldn't also get a water, only one so we all opted for coke to be safe. We were given a small glass with 4-6 oz. of coke. A guy did come out…”
Spend an evening at Xi’an’s Tang Dynasty Palace watching a polished dance production with English captions. Choose a show-only ticket, hotel transfer, or dinner with dumplings or local dishes. Drivers such as Zhang help with theater entry and return transport, while the support team stays online.
“Coco is a very professional, very kind, and attentive to all of her clients' needs. 100% recommended.”
Spend about two to three hours at Xi’an’s Tang Dynasty Palace, watching a one-hour song and dance performance backed by a live Chinese orchestra. Choose a show-only ticket, a dumpling banquet, or a royal dinner. English story screens help you follow the program, and booking support may come from Corsen Feng.
“Great package . I was picked up at my hotel in time in a great van, taken to the show and was picked up after the show and taken to my hotel . The show was of high quality, professional, great dancers, costumes, music and very colorful. Along the show music and drinks are available for the audience. ,”
At Shu Feng Ya Yun, you’ll watch a 90-minute Sichuan opera and folk-art program beginning at 8 p.m. Expect face changing, tea, snacks, and several seating choices. You can also add costume dressing, a back massage, ear cleaning, or a theater souvenir, depending on your selected option.
“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.”
Spend one hour at Beijing’s Red Theatre watching plate spinning, high-chair stunts, partner acrobatics, shoulder ballet, and more. Your booking support comes from Sunflower Tours China, with Li often helping by WhatsApp, iMessage, or WeChat. Choose standard or A seats, and add hotel transfer if needed.
“Li did a great job getting us seats with an amazing view. Her instructions were clear and simple to follow. The show is simply astonishing and more than I expected. It is also the right amount of time, just enough to keep us excited and not feeling overwhelmed. Totally recommended.”
Start with Guilin’s colorful Reed Flute Cave, then ride to Xianggong Hill and Xingping for a 50-minute bamboo boat trip. Your private guide and air-conditioned car handle the long transfers. The day ends with West Street and the Impression Liu San Jie show, often around 10 pm.
“Great experience, our guide / driver Colin was friendly and good English speaker. And also the show at the end was amazing!”
Spend about 90 minutes at Shufeng Yayun Teahouse in Chengdu Culture Park watching face changing, fire spitting, shadow puppetry, music, dance, acrobatics, and opera scenes. Your $30 ticket includes tea. Optional upgrades add front seating, snacks, massage, ear grooming, or costume photos, but arrive early to use them.
“A lot of fun :D! My daughter and I especially loved the shadowplay, facechanging and acrobatics. The shadowplay was brilliant! I could easily have watched that act for hours! The only downside was the language barrier in the 2 opera acts. We were still able to enjoy the music, costumes and makeup during those parts though :”
You’ll watch a one-hour Peking Opera performance at Liyuan Theatre inside Jianguo Hotel Qianmen. English subtitles help explain the story, while early arrival lets you watch actors apply makeup and change costumes. Tickets cost $28, with sections assigned but seats best chosen early.
“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.”
Pick a wall, a palace, a river or a table.
