Chongqing Grand Theatre

Chongqing Grand Theater is the central opera house of the megacity, set in Jiangbei district right where the Jialing River meets the Yangtze. The glass complex, designed by German firm gmp (Gerkan, Marg and Partner), opened in 2009 and seats around 1,800 in the main hall plus a smaller concert venue. Its silhouette deliberately evokes a docked sailing ship, a nod to Chongqing's past as an inland port. At night the LED facade mirrors the skyline of Jiefangbei across the water. Visitors come for programs ranging from Peking opera to Western symphonic concerts, and for the riverside promenade outside which is one of the best spots to watch the two-river confluence.