Beijing People's Art Theatre invites audience onstage to feel "warmth of theater"

Beijing People's Art Theater (BPAT) has hosted its "Friends of BPAT" Day event during the May Day holiday, inviting audience members into its iconic venues to experience "the warmth of the Theater" while commemorating the 70th anniversary of the opening of its flagship Capital Theater.

2026 marks the 70th anniversary of the official launch of the BPAT's Capital Theater, a landmark venue in the history of China's modern drama.

During the event, young actors from the theater guides visitors on exclusive tours of the backstage areas, explaining the venue's sophisticated acoustic design and timeless architectural aesthetics, while sharing heartfelt stories of their "first encounters on the stage".

A special 70th Anniversary exhibition of the Capital Theater has also been on display, featuring historical footage, original drama manuscripts and precious archival materials that trace the Theater's remarkable 70-year growth journey.

At the core of the event is the seven-decade legacy of the Capital Theater, with the entire celebration curated around the theme of "the warmth of the Theater", as detailed by Feng Yuanzheng, president of the Beijing People's Art Theater.

"This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Capital Theater's entry into operation, so the core highlight of this year's event is the Theater, which is why we've chosen the theme of 'the warmth of the Theater.' We have also showcased many intricate architectural details of the Capital Theater, allowing audiences to gain an in-depth understanding of this iconic venue. What's more, we've added a new session this year, giving audiences a precious chance to stand on the stage and experience the very stage of the BPAT by themselves," Feng said.

Beyond archival exhibitions and backstage access, the event has broken down the traditional barriers between the stage and the audience, opening up an unprecedented range of spaces and offering immersive experiences for drama lovers of all ages.

Throughout the holiday, the BPAT has opened five theaters including the Capital Theater and the Beijing International Theater Center, as well as more than 20 drama-themed spaces, hosting a diverse lineup of interactive activities from architectural guided tours and script reading sessions to immersive on-stage experience programs.

Visitors are invited to step onto the live set of the Capital Theater, step into the shoes of characters in classic dramas, feel the venue's unique architectural beauty, experience the profound power of drama, and truly feel the meaning of "the warmth of the Theater", making the art of drama tangible, accessible and fully participatory for every attendee.

"It has always been my biggest wish to stand on the stage of the BPAT. The first drama I watched here was 'Teahouse.' The feeling of watching a live performance is completely different from watching it online. The visual impact and the delivery of the lines are absolutely gripping," said an audience member.

Beijing People's Art Theatre invites audience onstage to feel "warmth of theater"

China’s transport authorities mobilized rail, road, air and waterway resources on Tuesday, the final day of the five‑day May Day holiday, to manage the peak return flow as passenger volumes surged nationwide.

The national railway system expects 23 million passenger trips on the day, with operators adding 2,225 extra trains and deploying capacity on popular routes and peak hours to handle the return flow from smaller cities to major hubs.

In Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, 134 trains have been temporarily added for high-demand directions including the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

"Railway return travel peaks today. In light of short stops and high passenger volumes, we have strengthened coordination with intermediate stations and offered guidance to passengers for smooth boarding and alighting to prevent crowding and stampedes," said Ji Yudi, a conductor of China Railway Zhengzhou Group.

Regional operators in Beijing, Chengdu and other cities have also proactively coordinated with local transit authorities to extend bus and subway operating hours, increase nighttime service frequency, and boost taxi and ride-hailing availability to ensure seamless transfers for late-arriving passengers.

With respect to highways, the national highway network is projected to record approximately 61 million vehicle trips on Tuesday. The peak traffic window is between 16:00 and 18:00, with congestion and slow-moving traffic likely around major city entry and exit points, as well as airport expressways in major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu.

To ease holiday congestion, traffic police in south China's Guangdong Province have rolled out tidal lanes and flow control measures at 24 key highway sections in nine cities.

"Using a highway interconnect system, we have conducted remote flow diversion. During this morning's peak return period, traffic efficiency on the Erenhot-Guangzhou Expressway improved significantly, showing no sign of congestion," said Dai Zhouwu, a local traffic police officer.

By water, an estimated 1.035 million passenger trips are expected to be made across the country on Tuesday, marking a 1.4-percent increase year on year.

To ensure smooth strait crossing from south China's Hainan Province, the maritime authorities in Zhanjiang City, south China's Guangdong Province have urged operators to supplement fixed sailings with extra voyages and optimized crew rotations to meet surging vessel demand.

Meanwhile, China's civil aviation sector is projected to carry 2.3 million passengers on Tuesday.

The Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, one of the country's busiest airports in southwest China's Sichuan Province, are offering free luggage pick-up and delivering services to passengers arriving from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen.

China’s transport network braces for record May Day return traffic