Shuyanfu Dinner Show: A Must-Do In Chengdu, China

Get ready to go back in time at Shuyanfu, a one-of-a-kind dinner show in Chengdu’s hip and trendy Eastern Suburb Memory (Dongjiao Memory) district.

This immersive nighttime experience combines food, art, and culture in a way that feels both ancient and modern.

Words really don’t do this royal banquet experience justice; you just need to experience it for yourself!

Think of it as a mix of fine dining and live performance where you’re transported back in time to experience what an extravagant banquet might have been like for royalty during China’s Han, Tang, and Song dynasties.

Chengdu people really know how to have fun because the Shuyanfu dinner show was one of the most enjoyable things I did there!

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What to Expect At Shuyanfu

Shuyanfu at Eastern Suburb Memory - Chengdu China

The experience revolves around a blend of traditional Chinese culture, music, dance, and food. Performers dressed in Hanfu (traditional Chinese clothing) put on an elegant show that includes traditional music, intricate dances, and digital light displays.

You’ll be seated in a grand hall with seats surrounding the stage on all sides, where performers take the stage on a three-story setup.

Each performance is inspired by China’s history, celebrating traditional etiquette, art, and cuisine. Some scenes were experimental and artsy, while others were just plain ol’ fun. As with most Mainland China shows, expect LOTS of great costuming.

It was still fun to watch, even as someone who barely understands Mandarin! There’s enough dancing, acting, and lip-syncing to still enjoy the show despite not understanding the language.

While the show unfolds, you’re treated to a lavish multi-course banquet featuring Sichuan-style dishes—some of which are inspired by ancient Chinese recipes.

Every dish is beautifully presented, and the servers, also in costume, bring a sense of theater to your meal. When the servers aren’t bringing you dishes or clearing your plates, they remain stationed around the venue, perfectly still in character—just like you’d see in traditional Chinese period dramas about emperors.

Their quiet presence makes the entire experience feel like you’re stepping into a royal court scene. It’s these small but intentional details that make the experience so immersive!

👉 FOR EXTRA FUN: If you love dressing up, go for the hanfu costume add-on. You can even get the package with costumes + your own private photographer! You need to reserve your time slot, but essentially you’ll just show up about 1.5 hours before dinner starts to get dressed up, dolled up, and photographed right before dinner starts.

You can make your dinner reservations on Trip.com.

What Is The Food Like At Shuyanfu?

After each performance, your private server delivers the next dish.

By the end of the 1.5-hour experience, you’ll have sampled more than 8 courses, which doesn’t even include the appetizers and sweets that sit prettily at your table from the start.

The menu changes seasonally, so here are the dishes we ate from the autumn menu:

partridge soup with pear and chuanbei
roast beef with black truffle
seafood in clay pot
Sichuan-style roasted beef tendon
steamed fish with golden pepper sauce
lion’s head meatball (shi zi tou)
fried seasonal vegetables
sweet osmanthus and tremella soup

There’s also jasmine-flavored plum wine, which is included with your ticket—each person gets their own bottle, available to you as soon as you get seated. It’s sweet, fragrant, and the perfect complement to the meal.

Shuyanfu Dinner Show Set Menu - Chengdu China

Shuyanfu Dinner Show Menu - Chengdu China

The food is quite delicious for a dinner show type of experience.

Usually, dinner shows serve mediocre food since the focus is on the performance. But Shuyanfu breaks the mold—they put just as much effort into the food and its presentation as they do into the show!

Every dish is beautifully plated, with flavors that match the elegance of the atmosphere. The meal was definitely an experience on its own.

My cousin and I really enjoyed the food, while my mom (who we can say has more ‘authentic’, picky Chinese tastebuds) thought it was just okay. Take that for what it’s worth!

How To Get Shuyanfu Tickets & Seats

You can opt for standard seats (498 RMB | $68 USD) or VIP seats (598 RMB | $82 USD).

The VIP seats offer the best view in the house, and with only a small price difference, the upgrade is absolutely worth it. Here’s why.

One thing to note is that there poles are placed throughout the venue for decorative purposes (they light up and add ambiance to the show).

Sometimes, the main characters will perform at the midpoint of the stage (though most times, the dancers are spread out throughout the stage). Depending on where you sit, these poles can block your view of the midpoint of the stage.

Just be aware of the potential view obstruction when booking seats. Our seats in the third row to the left of the stage were a bit obstructed.

If I could do it all over again, I’d book earlier to snag VIP seats or standard seats in the second row as close to the center as possible. You won’t have the pole issue in the second row or VIP row.

Since we had booked just 2 days ahead, all the good seats were taken, and the only option left for 4 people was in the third row.

Book early because you’ll want good seats for the show! It’s a full house at almost every show too.

You can book advance tickets on Trip.com here.

After experiencing it for ourselves, we recommend arriving at least 15 minutes early to check in, use the restrooms, settle in, enjoy the welcoming appetizers, and take in the space before the show begins — it’s sensory overload in the best way possible, so some extra time to sit and relax doesn’t hurt at all.

The show starts right on time and the first course is served immediately after the opening scene, so don’t be late!

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