Chongqing Grand Theatre 重庆大剧院

About Chongqing Grand Theatre

The building contains a large theatre and a smaller auditorium, making an evening performance a different experience from an exterior architecture visit. Walk around the public approaches to see how the glass changes with the light, then look towards the water. Interior access depends on the event or visitor arrangements rather than the openness of the surrounding square.

The Chongqing Grand Theatre was constructed between 2005 and 2009. The design company Hassell took part in a competition to decide how the building would be laid out; the finished structure differs from Hassell's original concept, which combined the ideas of a space centre and a sailing ship.

The building measures about 220 metres from east to west and 110 metres from north to south, with a total floor area of 103,307.10 square metres across seven storeys above ground and two below; it reaches a maximum height of 64.06 metres and an average height of 31 metres. It houses a large theatre and a medium-sized theatre: the horseshoe-shaped large auditorium seats 1826 people, including an 88-member orchestra pit, for large-scale opera, ballet, symphony and musicals, while the two-floor medium theatre seats 938 people, plus 65 in its own orchestra pit, for smaller-scale performances. Seventy-three backstage dressing rooms can accommodate more than 500 performers at once.

What to look for

• Faceted emerald-glass exterior: angular blocks with a ship-like silhouette.
• Large and medium auditoriums: two performance spaces within the complex.

Location & getting there

Getting to Chongqing Grand Theatre

Use Chongqing Grand Theatre on Beicheng Wenhua Street East Road in Jiangbeizui as the road destination. For a performance, follow the entrance and auditorium indicated on the ticket after reaching the theatre forecourt.