Backstage of Sichuan Opera

📍 Chengdu, Sichuan, China

Community support

From

DurationFlexible

FitnessEasy

CancellationFree cancellation 24 hours before start time

🚗On-demand departure

🎨Free trip design

⏰<2h response

Overview

Sichuan Opera, or Chuanju in Chinese, is one of the five most historically significant opera forms in China. It originated in the Sichuan province and was designated as National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2006. This experience brings you backstage with the actors in a grassroots-style opera house. Here, you’ll see how they prepare for their performances, do their make-ups, and get ready for their roles. The atmosphere is both relaxed and tense, with the actors chatting as they earnestly prepare for their upcoming performances. You can even try on costumes, learn some movements, and experience the intricate makeup firsthand. Through this hands-on experience, we hope you’ll gain a deeper appreciation for this traditional art form. The local opera houses are not just places where people go to see a story unfold on stage; they are also places where people meet friends, enjoy the show, and gather as a community - a social space for their loyal fans. We’ll be joining the locals, watching the performances over tea. As with many traditional art forms, Sichuan Opera faces its challenges in a rapidly evolving world. This activity provides a valuable secondary income source and teaching platform for local Sichuan Opera artists, enabling them to earn a sustainable livelihood through their skills and directly contributing to the economic resilience of the local artistic community. Through immersive interaction, you can help bring new vitality and awareness to this endangered art form.

What you will be doing

Backstage tour of a Sichuan Opera House

We’ll take you on a backstage tour of a folk theatre, meet the performers and crew, learn about the variety of costumes, stage props, different roles of stage characters, the orchestra's role, and traditional Chinese musical instruments.

Observe the pre-show preparations

Enjoy the performance

Before the performance begins, we’ll move to the front-row audience seats. Watch the Sichuan Opera performance over a cup of local Sichuan tea.

Things to know

AccessibilityChildren friendly

Fitness levelEasy

Tour languageEnglish | Chinese

Licence requiredNone

The experience is often offered as part of a package, such as by comibning with a cooking class or a foodie tour
The performance doesn’t have the face-changing part sometimes seen in Sichuan Opera
You can opt to experience face painting and take photos in traditional costumes for an additional fee.

Inclusions and Exclusions

✅ Included

Tour guide
Entrance ticket

❌ Not included

Gratuities

Where we'll meet

Meet up/Pick up location: To be confirmed at time of booking

Instruction: To be comfirmed at time of booking

ReturnThis trip returns to meeting point.

Tell us your travel plan, and we'll send you a personalised itinerary and quote. There is no obligation to book.