How to get to Chongqing 1949

The address in two scripts

In English the show's visitor guide gives the address as No. 999 Jinbi Zhengjie, Ciqikou, Shapingba District, Chongqing, and the street is spelled slightly differently from page to page. For a driver, the same guide supplies the full Chinese address: 重庆市沙坪坝区磁器口金碧正街999号重庆1949大剧院. Keep that line saved on your phone ahead of the trip, since a Chinese address is the surest thing to hand a driver. The pinyin spelling of the street also varies between maps, so the Chinese characters are the safe version to compare when two results look alike. Pinyin spellings such as Jinbi Zhengjie and Jinbizheng Street both appear in the show's own pages, which is why the Chinese characters are the reliable match when two results look alike.

Not the Chongqing Grand Theatre

Chongqing has two large theatres whose names look alike. The Chongqing Grand Theatre is an opera and concert house in Jiangbei, overlooking the Yangtze River near its confluence with the Jialing. It has nothing to do with this show, and its programme is built around opera, ballet, symphony and musicals. The show's visitor guide warns that when you search for the theatre in a navigation app you should check the name carefully. The name to look for is Chongqing 1949 Grand Theater, or 重庆1949大剧院 in Chinese. A wrong pin can cost you the evening, so compare the result in your app with the Chinese name before you confirm the ride.

Read next: Chongqing 1949 show: how to book

By taxi or ride-hailing

The visitor guide recommends a taxi or Didi, with the Chinese name shown to the driver. This is the simplest route for most visitors, because the drop-off is at the theatre and you do not need to read street signs in Chinese. In a ride-hailing app, type 重庆1949大剧院 into the destination field and choose the result that names the 1949 theatre. Check that the pin lies in the Ciqikou area, in Shapingba, before you confirm. If the app offers a similar name, such as the Grand Theatre in Jiangbei, back out and search again. The result should show the number 999 on Jinbi Zhengjie, as the show's visitor guide writes the address.

By metro

The visitor guide also offers a metro route: ride to Ciqikou station and follow the signs. Wikipedia describes Ciqikou station as an elevated station on the Chongqing Rail Transit network, in Shapingba District. The metro suits travellers who are comfortable reading station signs and who want to avoid road traffic, while a taxi suits anyone with luggage or a late return. Confirm your route in a map app that works in China on the day, because lines and exits change faster than any printed guide. If you arrive by metro, keep the Chinese address on screen as a fallback in case you need to ask the way once you are outside the station.

What surrounds the theatre

The theatre stands in Ciqikou, a subdistrict on the west bank of the Jialing River in Shapingba District. The designers of the interior describe the site as being at the foot of Gele Mountain, within the ancient town. Wikipedia describes Ciqikou as a busy port at the lower reaches of the Jialing, which is why a stage built around a wharf belongs here. Ciqikou is the old river port whose waterfront the show's first set evokes, so the neighbourhood and the stage tell one story. The other guides on this site cover the town and its history in more detail. Wikipedia adds that the town was once known as Little Chongqing.

Read next: Ciqikou before the show

Arrive 30 minutes early

The show's visitor guide asks guests to be inside by half an hour before the show. That time is for finding your seat, renting an English translation device and looking around the lobby. The headset is collected at the main lobby reception, and the ticket text asks for a deposit of 150 yuan per person, refunded when you return it. The performance runs about 75 minutes with no interval, so use the restrooms before you take your seat. Staff at the reception are the people to ask about anything specific to your date. The ticket page says starting times appear once you check availability, so confirm yours before you leave. If you reach the theatre earlier than planned, the lobby is the place to wait.

Your entry code and your phone

Before you set out, check the messages you received after booking. The ticket page advises having a WhatsApp or WeChat number so the seller can contact you, and it warns that the QR code on the GetYourGuide voucher is not valid for entry. The correct code arrives by chat and by email. Open it ahead of time and screenshot it, so it still works if the network drops. Keep your phone charged, since you will need it for the code, the map and the ride home. If a message from the seller asks you to confirm details, answer it before the day of the show. Messages may arrive on WhatsApp, WeChat or email, so check all three before you set out.

Rules inside the theatre

Photography and videography are not permitted during the performance, according to the show's visitor guide. The same guide says there is no interval, so the show runs straight through. Put your phone away once it starts, and take your photographs of the building and the lobby beforehand. The stage turns during the show, so stay in your seat and follow the staff's directions. Staff run the headset desk and the entrance, so questions about seating or access are best asked there before the show begins. Keep your phone on silent and out of sight, and keep any bags small so the people around you can enjoy the show.

Before you leave the hotel

A short checklist covers almost everything above, and it takes a minute to run through.

• Save the Chinese address 重庆市沙坪坝区磁器口金碧正街999号重庆1949大剧院 in your phone.
• Open the entry code from the seller's chat or email, and screenshot it.
• Plan to be at the theatre half an hour before the start.
• Carry cash or an app wallet for the 150 yuan headset deposit.
• Look up your date's start time in the calendar.
• Charge your phone, since the code, the map and the ride all depend on it.
• Book your ride home before the show ends.
• Read the story guide on this site so the headset is a help.
• Carry a copy of the Chinese address, on screen or on paper.
• Check the weather and dress for the evening you booked.
• Look at all three message channels: WhatsApp, WeChat and email.
• Agree a meeting point with your group in case you are separated.

Who this isn't for

Skip this plan if you want a ticket that includes transport, because the show ticket covers the performance only and you arrange the trip yourself. It also falls short if you want to explore the whole old town before the show without a margin for error, since the 30-minute arrival request leaves little room for a long visit. Anyone who needs step-free access should ask the seller first, to learn what awaits at the door and in the auditorium. The show also runs about 75 minutes without a break, which is worth weighing for anyone who finds a long sit uncomfortable. If you are travelling with very small children, ask the seller about age rules before you book.

After the show

When the show ends, the same taxi and ride-hailing options apply for the trip back. Ciqikou itself is known for its old streets and for its food. Wikipedia says Ciqikou is known for its "three treasures" of local food, and it describes a heritage compound and a Ming-era temple among the sights. Opening hours after your performance vary by season and day, so confirm them before planning a meal, and arrange your ride home before you leave the theatre. Ciqikou is an old port town that grew up around the Jialing River, and a short stroll through it after the performance adds context to the show. Ciqikou's lanes can be busy in the evening, so keep your group together and agree a meeting point before you walk in.