Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show Ticket Xi'an

Chang'an and the Tang Dynasty

From 618 to 907 the Tang dynasty ruled China from Chang'an, the city we now call Xi'an. At its height it was one of the largest cities in the world, laid out on a strict grid with broad avenues, walled wards and two great markets where merchants from Central Asia, Persia and beyond traded along the Silk Road. Tang culture absorbed those influences, and its music and dance became famous across Asia.

Court orchestras mixed Chinese zithers and flutes with the pipa lute and drums that came from the west, and dancers performed flowing sleeve dances and fast whirling dances. Much of the Tang city lies under modern Xi'an, but the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the grid of streets still recall it. This show is the most enjoyable way to imagine that world in one evening.

The Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show

The performance opens with the sound of a gong and moves through scenes of court life: elegant palace dances in silk costumes, ensembles of ancient instruments, a rousing battle scene and a grand finale at the imperial court. Modern lighting and holographic effects transform the stage into palace halls, while English subtitles explain each scene so you can follow the story.

The show has been performed in Xi'an for decades and is a classic choice for a first evening in the city. Is the Tang Dynasty show worth seeing? If you enjoy costume, music and spectacle more than spoken drama, yes: it is colourful, family-friendly and only about an hour long. After the show you may have the chance to take photos with the performers.

The Dumpling Dinner

Dumpling banquets are a Xi'an tradition. Before the show you are served a sequence of steamed dumplings made in the shapes of ducks, fish, walnuts and flowers, each with a different filling, often followed by a small pot of tiny pearl dumplings said to bring good luck. Musicians play traditional melodies during the meal, setting the mood for the performance.

Dinner lasts about an hour and you stay at the same table for the show, so there is no rush between the two. If you need halal or vegetarian food, tell us when booking and we request suitable dishes from the theatre; alternatively choose the show-only ticket and dine first in the Muslim Quarter, about 15 minutes away, where Hui Muslim families run many halal (qingzhen) restaurants.

Show Times, Location and How to Get There

The theatre stands on North Chang'an Road, just south of the old city walls. How to get to the Tang Dynasty show: take metro Line 2 to Nanshaomen station, use Exit C and walk about 500 metres, or take a taxi from your hotel. Arrive before dinner begins so you are seated on time.

Usually there is one session, with dinner from 18:30 and the show from 19:30. In busy seasons the theatre runs two sessions instead: an early one with dinner at 17:00 and the show at about 17:45, and a later one with dinner at about 19:10 and the show at about 20:10. If your session changes we tell you at least two days in advance. The evening lasts about two hours with dinner.