Young visitors looks at the props mask Photo: Courtesy of The National Centre for the Performing Arts

Students perform on the stage Photo: Courtesy of The National Centre for the Performing Arts

Visitors look at Chinese traditional lion dance performance Photo: Courtesy of The National Centre for the Performing Arts

The National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) kicked off a series of public open days at Taihu Stage Design Centre in Beijing on Sunday.

This is the first public open day event to be held at the Taihu Stage Design Centre, which covers an area of nearly 60,000 square meters.

Guan Jianbo, director of the NCPA's Department of Stage Technology, showed journalists and visitors around the props and costume workshops, where workers and designers were making stage equipment for the coming war-themed stage play Jue Ze (lit: Choice), including manifold pistols, rifles and tanks.

The digital warehouse is next to the costume workshop and is where the size, color and even texture of the costumes are all recorded into a computer.

Workers can choose a specific costume with a few simple clicks on the computer and the conveyor belts and mechanic arms will bring them a box with the costume inside it.

"The Taihu Stage Design Centre is a comprehensive area for prop and costume design, production and storage as well as art performances," said Guan.

"This type of performance center is a leader in the industry."

The public open days at the Taihu Stage Design Centre will come to an end on September 15. Visitors can not only watch stage performances during the public open days, but also have the opportunity to explore back stage.