Chinese acrobatics is one of the performing arts that needs no translation. The Chaoyang Theatre in east Beijing and the Tiandi Theatre near Tianqiao in the south are the two most reliable venues, running nightly shows of tumbling, contortion, plate-spinning, and the motorcycle globe of death. The productions are unapologetically spectacular — the technical standard of Chinese acrobatics training is exceptionally high — and the shows run about 90 minutes.
The Chaoyang Theatre in Sanlitun is the most convenient for most visitors; the Tiandi Theatre, in a more traditional venue near Tianqiao, has a somewhat more atmospheric setting. Book through your hotel or online; shows fill up with group tours, particularly in summer.