In Kaizhou district, Southwest China's Chongqing, the One Yuan Theater is transforming access to the arts with its innovative model. Launched by the local government in June 2025, this initiative offers show tickets for just one yuan ($0.15), making art accessible to all and boosting local tourism and community engagement.
By the end of June, the theater had hosted 147 performances, attracting 180,000 attendees and garnering over 6 million online followers. Peak livestream audiences surpassed 600,000, nearly 750 times the capacity of the district's largest theater, according to the organizer, Hushan Investment Group.
On the night of June 30, the Kaizhou Theater captivated audiences with a two-hour annual gala, featuring a vibrant mix of theatrical acts, traditional Chongqing-style crosstalk, Sichuan Opera, songs and dances, and even a Brazilian dancer's breaking routine, all offered as public benefit shows.
Among the standout performances was the One Yuan Theater's original group dance, Zhi Ka Zhi Ka, inspired by the traditional Tujia brocade craft. The performance earned the prestigious Qunxing Award last year, marking a first for Kaizhou on the national stage.
"The gala presented historical segments of the local Three Gorges migrants, which I wanted my daughter to learn about," says Tong Xiaoqing, an audience member. A few days ago, following a recommendation by a friend who is an extra at the theater, she quickly secured two tickets as soon as they were released and brought her 9-year-old daughter to the event.
The initiative spans multiple venues across Kaizhou and includes mobile stages that bring cultural experiences to local communities. The show has established a regular weekly schedule of small plays, monthly performances and seasonal shows.
Local retiree Zhang Jicheng is a testament to the theater's popularity, having attended 86 shows over the past year. "With just a tap in the WeChat mini program, I can enjoy high-quality performances for only one yuan," he says.
"We set the fee at one yuan instead of making it free to enhance the sense of occasion, encourage good audience behavior, and help prevent wasting public cultural resources," says Tan Bo, head of the arts department in Kaizhou's publicity department. "To tackle the challenges of limited access to performances and low participation, we've launched this initiative with the aim of improving cultural offerings at the grassroots level and satisfying the community's need for quality cultural experiences."
