Beijing’s Chaoyang Lights Up the Night as Art, Culture and Global Creativity Meet

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A Panorama of the City's Nightscape

BEIJING, CHINA — Beijing’s Chaoyang District is turning its nights into a vibrant international stage as the 2026 Beijing Chaoyang International Light Consumption Season and Liangma River International Arts Festival brings together light, culture, entertainment and performances from China and around the world.

Officially opened on September 24, the event carries the theme “AMAZING YOU.” The Light Consumption Season runs through October 11, while the Liangma River International Arts Festival continues until November 20, featuring 10 major themes and more than 100 performances and activities.

A City Transformed After Dark

The festival connects key areas of Chaoyang, including the Liangma River Cultural and Economic Belt, Olympic Central Area, CBD, Sanlitun, Chaowai UIC, Dawangjing and Gaobeidian.

Along the Liangma River, visitors can take the “Light-Chasing” cruise, where illuminated installations reflect across the water. At Chaoyang Park, the Romance of Light and Shadow experience turns the park into an open-air theatre combining light, music, water and performance.

Created with the participation of the China Oriental Performing Arts Group and other professional teams, the production unfolds through three acts and seven chapters, with themed performance spaces spread across the park.

Where East Meets West

Beyond the visual spectacle, Chaoyang is positioning the festival as a meeting point for international arts and cultural exchange.

Traditional Chinese aesthetics, music and imagery share the stage with international performances. A French creative team brings a floating piano and double-bass performance, while balloon artists from the Netherlands and France create interactive shows.

A giant light installation, Arch Flower, by a French artist has also become one of the festival's visual landmarks.

At the Shell Theatre, audiences can experience more than 10 performances, including a special riverside edition of Yang Liping’s Dynamic Yunnan, a retro jazz night with ZaZaZsu, and performances by the Beijing Music Festival Youth Orchestra.

The mix of Chinese tradition and contemporary international creativity reflects Chaoyang’s ambition to present itself as an open urban platform where cultures can meet and interact.

From Light Shows to Nighttime Lifestyle

Now in its fourth edition, the Beijing Chaoyang International Light Consumption Season has become part of the district’s broader nighttime economy, combining tourism, culture, sports, entertainment and commercial activity.

More than 100 activities are being staged during the festival. They include immersive experiences around the 2026 China Open, outdoor concerts and night runs at Olympic Forest Park, the Olympic Park International Carbohydrate Festival, and the READYGO City Playground at Chaowai UIC.

The district is also bringing international pop culture into the mix, with attractions including a Batman-themed event, a DC Merchandise Store, celebrity pop-ups and the Stray Kids official SKZOO pop-up.

For Chaoyang, the festival is more than a celebration of lights. It is an effort to connect nighttime culture with tourism, entertainment and everyday urban life.

As the lights along the Liangma River come alive each evening, “Sleepless Chaoyang” offers visitors a glimpse of Beijing after dark—where traditional Chinese culture, international creativity and modern city life converge along the waterfront. (*).