Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Forbidden City Concert Hall
北京中山公园音乐堂
, běijīng zhōngshāngōngyuán yīny-
uètáng Zhong-shan Park, Xichang'an Jie 010 65598285,
fcchbj.com
;
Tian'anmen West
subway (line 1).
A stylish hall, with regular performances of Western and Chinese classical
music and occasionally jazz too. Tickets from
￥
80.
National Centre for the Performing Arts
国家大剧院
, guójiā dàjùyuàn 2 Xichang'an
Jie 010 66550000,
chncpa.org
; Tian'anmen West subway (line 1).
The giant
egg-shaped
structure
just west of Tian'anmen Square hosts the best international performances in its huge
concert hall. Note that you can't bring a camera.
Poly Theatre
保利大厦国际剧场
, bǎolìdàshà guójì jùchǎng Poly Plaza, 14 Dongzhimen
Nandajie 010 65001188; Donsishitiao subway (line 2).
A gleaming hall that presents di-
verse performances of jazz, ballet, classical music, opera and modern dance for the edifica-
tion of Beijing's cultural elite. Daily 7.30, from
￥
180.
CINEMAS
There are plenty of
cinemas
showing Chinese and dubbed Western films, usually action
movies. The government picks just twenty Western films for release every year, and when
they're too popular, they get pulled:
Avatar
disappeared from Chinese screens to give home-
grown borefest
Confucius
a chance, for example. Despite such restrictions, these days most
Beijingers have an impressive knowledge of world cinema, thanks both to the prevalence of
cheap, pirated DVDs and, of course, the internet. Beijing's biggest cinemas tend to show both
mainstream Chinese and foreign films with
tickets
around
￥
80. There are usually two show-
ings of foreign movies, one dubbed into Chinese, the other subtitled; ring to check.
MAINSTREAM CINEMAS
EastGateCinema
东环影城
, dōnghuán yĭngchéng B1 Building B, East Gate Plaza, 9 Dong-
zhong Jie 010 64185930; Dongsishitiao (line 2) or Dongzhimen subway (lines 2 & 13).
Small and a little ragged, which makes this a good choice if you don't fancy the whole mulit-
plex experience.
dubbed films.
Star City
新世纪影城
, xīnshìjì yĭngchéng B1 Oriental Plaza Mall, 1 Dongchang'an Jie
010 85186778; Wangfujing subway (line 1).
Another biggie, located in the highly present-
able Oriental Plaza Mall.
Wanda Cineplex
万达电影
, wàndá diànyĭng 3F Building 8, Wanda Plaza, 93 Jianguo Lu
010 59603399,
wandafilm.com
;
Guomao subway (lines 1 & 10).
Big, comfortable cinema
that usually has at least one international film going.
