Must-see entertainment in Asia
Boomerang Restaurant & German Bakery
Pokhara
A long-standing and popular restaurant with an evening cultural show.
Beijing
Dingjun Mountain, an excerpt of Peking opera believed to be the first Chinese film, was screened at this historical cinema back in 1905. Remarkably, you…
Beijing
Named after the celebrated Chinese novelist and dramatist whose works include the play Teahouse, the nightly shows at this tourist-oriented complex are…
Macau
A golden lotus-shaped tower, the delightfully tacky Grand Lisboa has become the landmark by which people navigate the peninsula's streets. Its four gaming…
Ho Chi Minh City
The landmark French-era Opera House is home to the HCMC Ballet and the Ballet & Symphony Orchestra (www.hbso.org.vn), and hosts performances by visiting…
Harbin
An architectural marvel, this sinuous, space-age theatre complex designed by MAD Architects has two auditoriums and hosts orchestral, dance and operatic…
Tainan
A handsome 140-year-old street house has been turned into a venue for tea and theatre, with daily performances of Taiwanese comedic dialogue. A tasty…
Suzhou Culture and Arts Centre
Suzhou
On the banks of Jinji Lake is one of the city’s most iconic buildings. Shaped like a crescent moon and bearing a striking nest-like facade that changes…
Macau
Wynn Palace has upped the game by having its own cable-car system take visitors around a huge fountain with dragon-topped pillars, dancing spouts and…
Macau
Family-friendly and reasonably priced (for Cotai), Parisian offers 3000 rooms ('famille' rooms have adorable children's furniture), and a huge play area…
Shinjuku & Northwest Tokyo
This is one of the very few remaining yose (vaudeville) theatres in Tokyo. Shows feature over a dozen acts, many of which are rakugo (comedic monologue)…
Vietnam National Tuong Theatre
Hanoi
Hat tuong is a uniquely Vietnamese variation of Chinese opera that enjoyed its greatest popularity under the Nguyen dynasty in the 19th century…
Macau
This extravaganza of Chinese mythology, acrobatics, song and dance is based loosely on the Chinese classic Journey to the West whose central character was…
Southern Higashiyama
Gion Corner presents one-hour shows that include a bit of tea ceremony, koto (Japanese zither) music, ikebana (art of flower arranging), gagaku (court…
Jeju-si
Partygoers young and old come here to dance into the early hours amid exotic dancers, live music, DJs, a laser-light show and a spectacular dome that…
Taipei
Live music, theatre, poetry readings, dance, lectures, workshops, anything goes in this beautiful space inside Taiwan Contemporary Culture Lab – first…
Macau
You can recognise Studio City from afar by the figure-eight-shaped 'Golden Reel' at its centre, a double Ferris wheel with views across Cotai. This…
Chinatown & the CBD
If your idea of a good night involves sinking into a sofa and watching classic flicks, make some time for Screening Room. Expect anything from Mamma Mia…
Chengdu
This small publike venue is the place in Chengdu to catch live local bands; they play most Fridays and Saturdays, and occasional weekdays, usually from…
Malaysia
Founded in the 19th century, Selangor Turf Club has a programme of 30 race days spread throughout the year – see the website for the schedule. The best…
Yunnan
This nightly dance show sees group dancing by many Mosuo men and women in traditional dress around a fire, with the occasional tourist joining in. The…
Seoul
Built for the 2002 Football World Cup, this 66,000-seat venue is still used as a sports and events stadium. Die-hard football fans may want to visit the…
Kaohsiung
A chill venue where music-industry types hang, and everyone seems to know everyone else. There are performances by indie acts and singer-songwriters from…
Luang Prabang
The misleadingly named Royal Lao Ballet puts on slow-moving traditional dances accompanied by a 10-piece Lao 'orchestra'. Performances last about 1¼ hours…
Taipei
This excellent art-house cinema is housed in a beautiful white colonial building that was once home to the US ambassador, and which dates back to 1925…
Kochi (Cochin)
To see real professionals practising kalarippayat, seek out this renowned 65-year-old training school 6.5km southeast of central Ernakulam. There are…
Beijing
This touristy theatre in the Qianmen Jianguo Hotel has nightly performances of Peking opera complete with English subtitles. The setting isn’t traditional…
Ko Ratanakosin & Thonburi
The National Theatre holds performances of kŏhn (masked dance-drama based on stories from the Ramakian) at 2pm on the first and second Sundays of the…
Bangkok
Once billed as the world's most notorious red-light district, Patpong is now a much watered-down version of its former self. These days, a flea market…
Taipei
This laid-back neighbourhood bar (the name means 'no problem' in Taiwanese), painted in warm Mediterranean oranges and reds, features regular live music…
Performing Arts Centre of Penang
George Town
Check the website to see what shows are on at this modern performing-arts centre, in the shopping plaza Straits Quay between George Town and Batu…
Gangnam & Southern Seoul
Watch South Korea’s best players slug it out at Jamsil Baseball Stadium. There are three Seoul teams in the eight-team Korean League and two of them – the…
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