China National Opera House, Opera house in Dongzhimen Subdistrict, Beijing, China

The China National Opera House is the national opera company of China, based at 115 Dongzhongjie, Chaoyangmen Outer Street, in Dongcheng District, Beijing. Its new theatre, completed in March 2022 and opened to the public on 1 May 2022, has a total construction area of 41,000 square metres. The company comprises an opera troupe, a choir, a symphony orchestra and stagecraft, costume and scenery departments.

The institution was founded in 1942 and moved to Beijing in 1952, becoming the national opera company under government stewardship. This relocation marked its emergence as the country's leading opera institution.

The house presents both classical Chinese opera and international productions, blending traditional performance styles with contemporary interpretations for audiences. Visitors experience how different genres coexist within the same venue, reflecting the city's cultural dialogue.

The opera house stands at 115 Dongzhong Street, Chaoyangmen Outer Street, southeast of Dongsi Shitiao Station. Its 41,000-square-metre building opened on 1 May 2022, with the opening concert on 6 July 2022. Since the National Centre for the Performing Arts opened, the company's own theatre hosts few performances, so check whether a production is at the house or elsewhere in Beijing.

On 24 November 1956, ten members of the company died when their Ilyushin Il-12 crashed at Eglisau in Switzerland while the troupe was returning from a tour of Latin America and Western Europe. The company had also performed the Yangge drama Brothers and Sisters Opening up the Wasteland in Yan'an in 1942, before its move to Beijing.