Illustration: Liu Xiangya/Global Times

A group of magnificent cultural buildings in Beijing's Tongzhou district have become new landmarks for the capital city's residents to check in and enjoy a cultural extravaganza during the New Year holidays.

Located adjacent to the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, the Beijing Performing Arts Centre (BPAC), Beijing Library and the Grand Canal Museum of Beijing (GCMB), which jointly opened to the public on December 27, 2023, are the latest symbol of the city's commitment to providing residents with access to high-quality cultural experiences. 

After over 1,400 days of construction, the three cultural buildings, which share a common space for people to communicate, broke from the conventional pattern of independent construction of public buildings. 

They create the cluster of cultural buildings that integrates five structures including the theater, library, museum, metro station and the shared public facilities. 

The three cultural gems not only greatly benefit local people, but also act as a catapult for the cultural development of the surrounding area. 

Hu Jiulong, deputy director of Beijing's Sub-center Management Committee, said that the launch of the three new buildings will greatly enhance the cultural charm and urban vitality of the Beijing sub-center, which houses many municipal government institutions.

"This will not only better promote the development of Beijing as a national cultural center, but also meet the demands of the people for high-quality cultural life in the eastern part of Beijing and the surrounding areas of the sub-center," Hu noted. "Additionally, it will promote the coordinated development of the cultural industry in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region." 

As a dazzling addition to the capital's cultural landscape, these new venues offer a wide range of activities and experiences that will inspire lifelong learning, creativity, and appreciation of the city's culture. 

Taking the shape of an ancient granary, which earned it the nickname "cultural granary," BPAC has a capacity equal to that of the capital's National Centre for the Performing Arts located in downtown Beijing. Covering an area of 125,000 square meters, BPAC consists of four indoor theaters (opera house, concert hall, theater, and multi-function theater) and one outdoor amphitheater.

Xu Xiaozhong, one of China's most renowned theater directors and former president of the Central Academy of Drama, told the Global Times that the launch of the center signals a big step in ensuring people to share the fruits of cultural development. 

"The center is located on the bank of the centuries-old Grand Canal, which creates an art space where man and nature coexist harmoniously. I think what is particularly valuable is that the center is a majestic art palace, an endeavor to reach out to people and give the public better access to art," said Xu.

With a 21,809-square-meter open reading space that won the Guinness World Record for largest library hall, the Beijing Library features the country's largest outdoor reading space for children and the most professional art documents hall, presenting residents a "forest of knowledge" with its 144 ginkgo tree-like canopies that support the roof. 

With a capacity of 8 million books, the 75,000-square-meter library provides people a relaxing space for reading, holding cultural exchanges and academic seminars and celebrating the cultural richness of Beijing and China at large. 

It is also equipped with China's largest automated storage and retrieval system, which makes use of a robot that can bring you any book you want to your seat within 15 minutes.

GCMB looks like the ancient ships that once sailed along the centuries-old Grand Canal. As a captivating showcase of the Beijing section of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, the museum boasts seismic protective devices among its advanced facilities. 

At the venue, a total of 242 orange rubber mats provide strong protection for the museum's precious cultural relics.

Representing the highest standard of current Chinese architectural design and construction, the unique cultural buildings invite people of all ages to explore the profound heritage and modern charm of the city. 

As a hub of education and entertainment, the shining cultural cluster will offer residents a diverse array of activities and performances in the coming months while helping to foster a greater sense of community.

People come here not only to visit, watch plays, and read, but more importantly, it provides a real-life experience. From this perspective, the three cultural buildings are a new endeavor that allows residents to share the fruits of the city's cultural development and shows the city's inclusive and open vibe.

The author is a reporter with the Global Times. life@globaltimes.com.cn