A Must-See Guide to Peking Opera Performances in Beijing: June Showtimes and Theater Recommendations

I've lived in Beijing for seven years, and the first time I took friends from out of town to see Peking opera was at the Mei Lanfang Grand Theatre. That day, they performed "The Legend of the White Snake," and when Bai Suzhen flicked her sleeves, my friend just exclaimed, "Wow!" It turned out that national treasures aren’t just black and white photos in textbooks; they can truly captivate you live. Ever since then, I've been checking the performance calendar every month, just like clocking in at a café. The June schedule has just been updated, so I'm sharing the latest ticket info and the pitfalls I've encountered—all laid out for you to copy.

Why Am I Willing to Keep Paying?

1. The live experience is irreplaceable
   When the actors start singing and the drum beats strike, you can feel the seats vibrating. No amount of Dolby sound at home can match that spine-tingling sensation.

2. Ticket prices are pretty reasonable
   The cheapest seats are just 80 yuan, which is half the price of concert tickets in the nosebleed section, and they even give you a show program that can double as a bookmark.

3. Air conditioning + classical vibes + popcorn freedom
   The theater is nicely air-conditioned. You can step out into the 38℃ heat and start sweating in five minutes, but within ten minutes inside, you completely forget about the scorching summer. You can even bring in a cup of iced Americano without anyone caring.

My Tested 5 Theaters, Pros and Cons Included

① Mei Lanfang Grand Theatre

Keywords: Newbie friendly, commemorative stamp perks

• Address: 32 Ping'anli West St, Xicheng District, a 3-minute walk from Exit B of Ping'anli Station on Line 6.
• Tickets: Use the WeChat mini-program "Mei Lanfang Grand Theatre"; the seat selection interface allows you to zoom in to see the stage outline clearly.
• Experience: There's a bronze statue of Mr. Mei in the lobby where you can get stamps; I've collected five types—those stamps dry in just a minute!
• Seating Tips: The front row of the second floor offers a perfect eye level view; the first five rows on the ground floor might have some of your view blocked by the band, so choose wisely.
• June Highlights: "Farewell My Concubine" on June 14/15 at 19:30, "Havoc in Heaven" on June 21/22 at 19:30.

② Beijing People's Theatre

Keywords: Reopened old theater, super comfy seats

• Address: 74 Huguosi Street, the same street as the "Huguosi Snacks" main store, so you can grab some curry puffs after the show.
• Tickets: Use the WeChat mini-program "Beijing People's Theatre"; there aren’t many tickets, so I recommend keeping an eye out when they go on sale at 10:00 on the release day.
• Experience: The theater was just renovated last year, and they added soft cushions to the seats with ample legroom—my two-meter-long legs don’t touch the person in front!
• Seating Tips: Rows 10 to 15 in the center are the "Emperor’s seats." You can see the actors' expressions and hand details clearly. The ticket price is just 180 yuan—best value!
• June Highlights: "Red Mane Horse" on June 7/8 at 19:30, "The Four Scholars Visit Their Mother" on June 28/29 at 19:30.

③ Chang'an Grand Theatre

Keywords: Enjoy tea while applauding

• Address: 7 Jianguomen Inner St, a direct walk from Exit A of Dongdan Station on Lines 1 and 5.
• Tickets: Use the WeChat mini-program "Chang'an Grand Theatre"; they allow free cancellation within 15 minutes of seat selection, a blessing for those who tend to make mistakes.
• Experience: You can buy tea inside, a big cup of jasmine tea for 10 yuan; you can bring it to your seat and shout "Great!" at exciting moments—nobody will roll their eyes, creating an atmosphere like a small stand-up comedy show.
• Seating Tips: The back row of the ground floor is a bit steep, so I recommend sitting in the front row of the second floor for a perfect view of the action.
• June Highlights: "Dragon and Phoenix Present" on June 11/12 at 19:30, "Female Generals of the Yang Family" on June 25/26 at 19:30.

④ Zhengyici Theatre

Keywords: 300-year-old theater, hidden gem in the hutongs

• Address: 220 Xiheyan Street, Qianmen; GPS might take you to the back door searching for "Zhengyici," so recognize the small wooden door next to "China Bookstore."
• Tickets: Search "Zhengyici" on Damai; tickets range from three tiers, the most expensive being 580 yuan, which includes tea snacks and unlimited sunflower seeds.
• Experience: The theater holds only 200 people; the stage is right in front of you, and you can feel the breeze when the actors wave their sleeves.
• Seating Tips: The eight immortals' table seats four; you'll be sharing with strangers, so avoid if you're shy; if you want to take pictures, sit on the side. You can raise your phone high for the curtain call without blocking anyone.
• June Highlights: "Classical Peking Opera Highlights" every Friday at 19:30, like a potted plant of Peking opera, suitable for newcomers.

⑤ National Centre for the Performing Arts

Keywords: Top-notch audio and visuals, a must-see for tourists

• Address: 2 West Chang'an Street, Xicheng District, right at Exit C of Tiananmen West Station on Line 1; you don't need an umbrella when it rains since there's an underground passage.
• Tickets: Use the WeChat mini-program "National Centre for the Performing Arts," and you need real-name registration—one ticket per ID card, so bring your ID if helping your parents buy.
• Experience: The stage's machinery can lift entire mountains, and the lighting feels like a movie shoot. When I watched "Red Cliff," the flames during the burning ships scene felt genuinely hot from the fifth row!
• Seating Tips: The back row of the first floor costs 100 yuan less than the front row, but the view is equally good—perfect for budget-conscious folks to grab the back seats.
• June Highlights: "Red Cliff" on June 18/19 at 19:30, "Return to the World" on June 30 at 19:30.

My Lessons from First-time Friends’ Mistakes

Quick Reference for June Performances (Just screenshot and save)

Last-Minute Tickets Tips

1. Snagging tickets 15 minutes after they’re released
   If someone doesn’t pay for a reserved seat, the system will automatically release it back after 15 minutes. Just keep refreshing!

2. Check for cancellations at 18:00 on the day of the show
   The mini-program allows cancellations on the same day, and there’s usually a wave released around 18:00. I once got a 280 yuan ticket for just 80 yuan!

3. On-site standby
   Some theaters have "on-site standby windows," cash only. If you queue up an hour early, your success rate is over 50%.

Quick Decision Recommendations

• First-time watchers → Mei Lanfang Grand Theatre's "Havoc in Heaven"
• Want to take pictures for social media → Zhengyici Theatre with a sunflower seed combo
• Taking parents → National Centre for the Performing Arts' "Red Cliff" for spacious seating and clean restrooms
• Budget under 100 → People's Theatre's "Red Mane Horse"

Save this article, and you can easily find the corresponding schedule any day in June. See you at the theater, where we can all shout "Great!" together!