Citizens to enjoy arts district in downtown Beijing

Beijing will invest 45 billion yuan ($7.23 billion) to develop a core performance district, led by the art districts in the Temple of Heaven and Tianqiao.

There are already 27 theatres in Dongcheng district, and Beijing will construct another 34. In Xicheng district, the number will grow from 28 to 64. In the area surrounding Tianqiao in Xicheng, the number will reach 50.

The city plans to establish more than 120 high standard theatres in central district, creating the embryo of a core performance district.

Performance unions, such as the Union of Theaters, will provide compensation for tickets and make prices more affordable. The first batch of 15 theaters – including the National Grand Theater, Poly Theater China and Children's Art Theater – were pilots to test out the compensation policy in practice.