Translating the vision of British architect Zaha Hadid's Guangzhou Opera House into a reality was apparently even more complicated than the construction of Beijing's celebrated Bird's Nest Stadium with over 10,000 tonnes of steel and 5,100 sheets of glass used to create the complex structure. At 70,000 sq m (83,719 sq yd), it became the third largest performance center in China (after Beijing's National Grand Theater and the Shanghai Grand Theater) on opening in May 2010 (though the official opening was postponed to February 2011).
Inspired by Guangzhou's natural riverside landscape, local geology, erosion and topology, the Guangzhou Opera House (Guǎngzhōu Gējùyuàn, 广州歌剧院) takes the form of pebbles from the Pearl River Delta. Its two large asymmetrical, amorphous buildings are reminiscient of a pair of jagged-edged quartz stones, washed up on the river's shore, the narrow space between them creating a steeply angled canyon.
Contained within the smaller of the two is a 400-seat multi-purpose performace space, restaurant and bar and in the larger, the pièce de resistance; the 1800-seat theater. With the interior designed to feature fluid lines filled with natural light, the foyers and stairways twist and turn like a waltz, leading finally to the main concert hall. Here, the balconies sweep round the cavernous space like a wall of eroded sandstone, lit by hundreds of twinkling lights scattered like stars across the ceiling. Despite its unusual shape, the acoustics here are excellent for both Chinese and western opera, the sound rolling seamlessly around the chamber.
Though stunning by day, with its spider web-like glass and steel exposed frame the Guangzhou Opera House really comes to life at night, as the lights shine through and the foyer fills up with guests.
Over 200 performances are expected to take place each year ranging from classic western and Chinese opera to musicals like Cats and Mamma Mia, ensuring there's something to please every kind of theater-goer.
Guangdong guide | Guangzhou guide | Guangzhou attractions
Guangzhou flights | Guangzhou hotels
Guangzhou on the China Travel Blog