The Shanghai Grand Opera House in Pudong New Area has completed construction and entered the final countdown to its opening, following project completion and filing on June 23. Set within Expo Culture Park, the venue is poised to become a new world-class cultural landmark.

Shanghai Grand Opera House features a flowing white double-helix structure shaped like a Chinese fan. [Photo/WeChat ID: pdnews]

Located on the east bank of the Huangpu River, the opera house features a flowing white double-helix structure shaped like a Chinese fan. The project was designed by East China Architectural Design Institute (ECADI) in collaboration with Snøhetta and other international partners.

The development incorporates a series of pioneering engineering solutions, including the use of 165 MPa ultra-high performance concrete, a material rarely employed in building structures. The innovation enabled the creation of large cantilever spans and complex geometric forms across the 146,000-square-meter complex.

The project has received international recognition, including awards from the International Federation for Structural Concrete and the American Concrete Institute, underscoring China's advancement in complex structural engineering and cultural architecture.

Inside, the venue comprises four performance spaces: Harmony Hall, Soar Theatre, Open Stage, and Grand Atelier. Together, they form Asia's first six-grid stage system designed for rapid scene changes and diverse performance formats in Shanghai, China.

Harmony Hall offers a 3,500-square-meter stage, one of Asia's largest, featuring a dual-directional stage system and flexible seating designed to support multiple productions within a single week.

Officials said the venue will serve as a key cultural hub, integrating arts, tourism, and public engagement while linking Shanghai Expo Culture Park with the broader urban cultural ecosystem.