The Luhu Art Center, a key public welfare project in Longhua and the district’s largest cluster of public cultural buildings to date, is scheduled to open Jan. 15.

The Luhu Art Center is located in Guanhu Subdistrict, Longhua District. Photos courtesy of Longhua District Culture, Radio, Television, Sports and Tourism Bureau unless otherwise stated

Located southeast of the intersection of Ping’an Road and Huanguan Middle Road in Guanhu Subdistrict, the project covers approximately 48,000 square meters of land and has a gross floor area of 184,000 square meters.

Comprising a theater, a public art center, and a library arranged from north to south, the complex features two underground levels and four above-ground floors. It is designed to serve as a one-stop destination for high-quality public cultural experiences.

Consisting of a 1,416-seat main hall and a 577-seat hall, the theater is capable of hosting performances of varying genres and scales.

The public art center, which houses a 378-seat hall and a 233-seat conference hall, provides a versatile venue for cultural exchange activities, art training programs and academic seminars.

With capacity for 1.15 million volumes, the library boasts a 240-seat lecture hall, an intelligent sorting system, and a fully automated three-dimensional book storage facility.

The Luhu Art Center at night. 

By seamlessly integrating its rooftop with slopes of a nearby urban park, the Luhu Art Center transforms what might otherwise be an enclosed space into an open and accessible one.

A computer-rendered image of the center's interior.

Together with its waterfront areas, the complex offers ample public spaces for visitors to relax — an approach that has earned the project six prestigious international architecture awards.

The West End musical "Singin' in the Rain" will be staged at the center from Jan. 22 to 25. Poster from WeChat official account "中国东方演艺集团"

In addition to presenting the acclaimed dance drama “The Journey of a Legendary Landscape Painting” as its opening performance, the center’s opening season will feature a diverse lineup of performances, including the London West End musical “Singin’ in the Rain,” and “Swan Lake” by the Guangzhou Ballet Theater, among others.

These performances will be complemented by a series of activities, including an exhibition themed around “The Journey of a Legendary Landscape Painting,” roundtable talks, creative markets, and cultural workshops.