Guangzhou Opera House (广州大剧院) is the performing arts centre designed by Zaha Hadid on Zhujiang West Road in Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District. It opened on 9 May 2010 and is known for its "double pebble" forms: two granite-and-glass buildings shaped like stones on a riverbank. It is described as the largest performing arts centre in southern China and one of the three largest theatres in the country.
There are two ways to get inside. You can book a guided visit, which is led in Chinese only and must be reserved in advance under your real name, or you can buy a ticket for a performance, which is sold separately. This guide covers both, along with the venue's architecture and how to get there by metro.
Visit rules have changed over the years, and older guidebooks quote prices and tour options that no longer apply. The details below follow the venue's current official ticket page; always check which time slots are actually shown as bookable before you plan your day around a visit.
Architectural Design and the Twin Pebbles Concept
Zaha Hadid won the 2002 international design competition for the opera house, beating entries from Coop Himmelb(l)au and Rem Koolhaas. Construction began on 18 January 2005, and the house opened on 9 May 2010 with a production of Puccini's Turandot. Its earlier Chinese name was 广州歌剧院; the current name is 广州大剧院.
The design is built around two separate buildings that resemble two river-shaped stones. The large stone holds the Opera Hall, the main auditorium, which the venue gives as 1,687 seats. Its acoustics were designed by Harold Marshall. The small stone contains a multi-function Experimental Theatre with 350 reconfigurable seats.
The site covers 42,393 square metres, with a total floor area of about 71,000 square metres, and the project cost about 1.38 billion yuan. Outside performance spaces, a contemporary art gallery run with the Guangdong Museum of Art occupies part of the building.
For architecture-minded visitors, the guided visit is the only way to see the interior without a show ticket. Because the auditorium is a working stage, rehearsals or set-up can close it or change the visit route on a given day.
Tickets and Opening Hours
The interior is open to the public only on guided visits. These are led by a Chinese-language guide, and the official ticket page states that there is currently no English guide service. Older third-party figures, such as a ¥30 entry ticket or a ¥200 English tour, are out of date.
Visits run from 10:00 to 16:00, and the venue is closed to visitors on Mondays. Guided batches start at 10:00 and 11:00 in the morning and at 13:00, 14:00, 15:00 and 16:00 in the afternoon. An older official visitor notice limited visits to weekends and public holidays; the newer ticket page allows weekday visits, but only the slots shown as bookable are open, so check availability when you book.
- Guided Visit Tickets
- Full price: ¥15
- Half price: ¥7.5
- Holiday full price: ¥12 (as listed on the official ticket page)
- Holiday half price: ¥6 (as listed)
- Free ticket: ¥0 (category listed on the official ticket page)
- Working-day guide fee: ¥100 per batch, in addition to tickets
Half price applies to seniors with a senior card, primary and secondary school students with a student card, children 1.2 m and under accompanied by an adult, and people with a disability certificate. On working days an extra Chinese guide fee of ¥100 is charged per group or batch, and groups of 10 or more pay the guide fee on any day.
Booking is real-name and must be made at least five working days in advance through the official ticket channel (WeChat ticketing) or by phone on 020-38392287 or 020-38392401 (Monday to Friday, 10:00-18:00). Each ID can be used to book once per day, and groups should enquire 15 working days ahead.
Foreign visitors can book with a passport; Hong Kong/Macau and Taiwan travel permits are also accepted. On the day, bring the original ID used for the booking and the booking SMS, and gather at the theatre shop before your batch starts.
Getting There
The opera house is at 1 Zhujiang West Road, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District (广州市天河区珠江新城珠江西路1号). The venue's own directions are to take Metro Line 3 or Line 5 to Zhujiang New Town (珠江新城) station and use exit B1.
The Zhujiang New Town APM line also stops at Guangzhou Opera House (大剧院) station, which is underground at Huajiu Road and Zhujiang East and West Road, northeast of the opera house. This is a convenient option if you are already moving around Zhujiang New Town on the APM.
On-site parking is limited, and the venue asks visitors to use public transport. If you are coming for an evening performance, allow extra time to get from the station to your seat.
- Metro Transportation Options
- Lines: 3 or 5
- Station: Zhujiang New Town (珠江新城)
- Exit: B1
- APM: Guangzhou Opera House (大剧院) station
Seeing a Performance
Performance tickets are sold separately from guided visits. You can buy them through the official website (gzdjy.org), the "Guangzhou Opera House Butler" (广州大剧院管家) WeChat account, the hotline 4008-808-922 (also 020-38392888 and 020-38392666), or at the box office at 1 Zhujiang West Road. Authorised agents include Damai and Maoyan.
The box office is open 10:00-18:00 on non-performance days and 10:00-20:00 on performance days. Tickets are non-refundable, so confirm the date, time and hall before paying. Children under 1.2 m are not admitted to most shows, which matters if you are travelling with young children.
Inside the hall, follow the usual theatre etiquette: arrive in good time, silence your phone, and do not photograph or film during the performance. Smart-casual clothing is a safe choice for evening shows.
If you need special seating or assistance, contact the venue before your visit through the hotline so staff can advise on arrangements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you go inside Guangzhou Opera House without a show ticket?
Yes, but only on a guided visit. Visits are led by a Chinese-language guide in set batches and must be booked in advance under your real name; otherwise you need a performance ticket to enter the theatre.
How much is a Guangzhou Opera House tour?
The official ticket page lists a full-price visit ticket at ¥15, half price ¥7.5, holiday full price ¥12, holiday half price ¥6 and a free category. On working days a Chinese guide fee of ¥100 per batch is charged, and groups of 10 or more pay the guide fee on any day.
What are the tour times and opening hours?
Visits run 10:00-16:00 (last entry 16:00) and the venue is closed to visitors on Mondays. Guided batches start at 10:00 and 11:00 in the morning and 13:00, 14:00, 15:00 and 16:00 in the afternoon. Rehearsals or stage set-up can close the auditorium or change the route; only times shown as bookable are open.
How do I book a visit, and do I need my passport?
Booking is real-name and must be made at least five working days in advance through the official ticket channel (WeChat ticketing) or by phone on 020-38392287 / 020-38392401 (Mon-Fri 10:00-18:00). Bring the original ID used for the booking - a passport, Hong Kong/Macau or Taiwan travel permit is accepted - plus the booking SMS, and gather at the theatre shop. Each ID can book once per day; groups should enquire 15 working days ahead.
Are tours available in English?
No. The official ticket page states that visits are guided in Chinese only and there is currently no English guide service.
How do I buy performance tickets?
Buy through the official website (gzdjy.org), the 'Guangzhou Opera House Butler' (广州大剧院管家) WeChat account, the hotline 4008-808-922 / 020-38392888 / 020-38392666, or the box office at 1 Zhujiang West Road (10:00-18:00 on non-performance days, 10:00-20:00 on performance days). Authorised agents include Damai, Maoyan and others. Tickets are non-refundable, and children under 1.2 m are not admitted to most shows.
What is the nearest metro station?
The venue's own directions are Line 3 or Line 5 to Zhujiang New Town station, exit B1. The Zhujiang New Town APM line also has a Guangzhou Opera House (大剧院) stop just northeast of the building.
Who designed Guangzhou Opera House and when did it open?
It was designed by Zaha Hadid, whose 'double pebble' scheme won a 2002 competition, and it opened on 9 May 2010 with a production of Puccini's Turandot.
Guangzhou Opera House rewards two kinds of visit. A guided visit (Chinese-language only, ¥15 full price, closed Mondays) lets you see the building's interior without a show, as long as you book under your real name at least five working days ahead. A performance ticket, bought through the official channels or authorised agents, lets you experience the hall as it was designed to be used.
Either way, take the metro to Zhujiang New Town station exit B1, bring the passport you booked with, and check the bookable slots before you go, since rehearsals can change the route or close the auditorium.
For the latest official information, see the Guangzhou Opera House official site and Guangzhou Opera House on Wikipedia.
