Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( Guāngmáng; 111 Gulou Dongdajie, admission from ¥50; 8pm-late; Shichahai)
This midsized venue,
opposite the northern entrance to Nanluogu Xiang, is large enough to give the many gigs
it hosts a sense of occasion, but small enough to feel intimate. The decor is functional and
the sound tight. All sorts of bands play here, but if they're from overseas, the entrance
price is sky-high.
PÉNGHĀO THEATRE
( Pénghāo Jùchǎng; 6400 6452;
www.penghaoren.com
;
in an alley beside 35 Dongmianhua Hutong, 35 tickets
from ¥50; Nanluoguxiang)
Students from the nearby drama academy sometimes perform
here, in this small informal nonprofit theatre, tucked away down a narrow, unnamed alley-
way between Dongmianhua Hutong and Beibinmasi Hutong. The venue, which doubles as
a cafe, is enchanting, and has some lovely rooftop seating areas, shaded by a 200-year-old
tree which slices through part of the building. Performances are mostly modern drama,
and are often held in English as well as Chinese. Its website was down when we last
checked, so try calling to see what's on. Some English spoken.
|THEATRE
CHINA PUPPET THEATRE
Hepingxiqiao, then bus 104, 101 or 8)
Popular with families, this theatre puts on shadow play, pup-
petry, music and dance events on Saturdays and Sundays only. There are two theatres. The
larger one (
dà jùcháng;
tickets ¥180 to ¥380, shows at 10.30am and 2.30pm) hosts music
and dance shows. The puppet shows are always in the small theatre (xiǎo jùcháng; tickets
¥100, shows at 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1.30pm and 2.30pm). No English. The theatre is less
than 1km north of Liǔyìn Park. Go to Hepingxiqiao subway station, then take a west-
bound bus (Nos 104, 101 or < 8) to Anzhenqiao Xi bus stop (1km) from where you'll see
the fairy-tale castle-like theatre building on the other side of the ring road.
|THEATRE
KTV
Karaoke, or as it's known here, KTV, is the number one leisure pastime for most Chinese people. There are hun-
dreds of KTV venues in Běijīng and if you get the chance to go to one with some Chinese friends, take it. The
enthusiasm the locals show for belting out their favourite pop classics across a small room filled with their
mates is astonishing.
If you speak Mandarin, you can sing along to the latest Mando-pop hits. English speakers will have to content
themselves with a smaller and older selection of tunes, but you'll always find something you can sing. At the
