After six years of construction,Shanghai Grand Opera House (SGOH), the giant white building by the Huangpu River known as the "Chinese Fan," will officially open on October 17.
Located by Expo Culture Park, the opera house was designed by Norwegian architecture firm Snøhetta together with ECADI. Its curved white exterior takes inspiration from a traditional folding fan, making it one of the more recognizable new buildings along the waterfront.
What Is It
Shanghai Grand Opera House has three performance halls: the 2,000-seat Harmony Hall (红厅), the 1,200-seat Soar Theatre (申厅), and the 1,000-seat Open Stage (镜厅).
The Harmony Hall is the largest of the three spaces, designed for large-scale productions including opera, dance dramas and symphonic concerts. Its 3,500 sqm stage incorporates Asia's first "six-square" stage system, with bi-directional stage wagons enabling faster scene changes and greater staging flexibility.
The Soar Theatre features a U-shaped layout with 1,200 seats and is designed for a wide range of performances, including theatre, dance, opera and traditional Chinese opera, as well as new local productions.
The Open Stage is the smallest of the three. Its nearly 13-meter-high glass curtain wall brings natural light and views of Expo Culture Park into the space. With flexible seating arrangements, the hall can host chamber music, immersive performances, and other smaller-scale productions.
The Public Space: When Can You Go Up?
One of the building's more distinctive features is its elevated Public Space, formed by a series of "fan ribs" that extend upward from the structure. The double-spiral pathway rises 28 meters above the ground and leads to a viewing platform with views of the Huangpu River and Expo Culture Park.
The Public Space is not yet open to visitors for safety reasons. A reservation-based access system may be introduced after the official opening, so visitors will need to wait for further updates.
For now, the best place to appreciate the full "Chinese Fan" shape is from the riverside walkway outside, especially around sunset.
Inside: The Program & Tickets
Under the theme "Bring to Sing," the opening season will run from October 17, 2026, to February 20, 2027, featuring 82 performances across 47 programmes, along with more than 100 arts education events. The season will include productions such as Tosca, Aida and Der Rosenkavalier, as well as performances by local and international groups. Tickets for the first 3 shows have already sold out. Tickets for upcoming shows will become available here on SmartShanghai as they are announced.
***
