The National Center for the Performing Arts of China (simplified Chinese: 国家大剧院; lit, National Grand Theatre), also known as «The Egg», is an opera house in Beijing, People's Republic of China. It opened its doors in June 2007. The French architect Paul Andreu was in charge of designing it, with an initial cost planning of about 2,688 million yuan. The theater can accommodate up to 6,500 people on its 200,000 m² surface.

The location, immediately west of the Great Hall of the People and near the Forbidden City, was not the most popular choice. Some think the overall design is too modern. Paul Andreu answered that although in China there is a special feeling about traditional architecture, Beijing must include modern architectural designs due to its status as the country's capital and an international city of great importance. Its design, with a large surface, water, trees and other elements, was made to be complementary to the red walls of the old buildings and the Great Hall of the People, in addition to blending well with the surroundings. Even so, many citizens believe that the contrast is too great and does not fit with the surroundings.

The exterior of the theater is a titanium and glass dome completely surrounded by an artificial lake. It is said to look like an egg floating in water. Guests enter the building after walking through a lobby that runs beneath the lake. It was designed as an icon, something that was immediately recognizable, like the Sydney Opera House in Australia.

By the time construction was completed, the total cost had increased by nearly 24% to 3.2 billion yuan. The largest increase was caused by the stoppage of work and the delay in revaluation and subsequent small changes after terminal 2E at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, the work of the same architect, partially collapsed on May 23, 2004. The cost has been a source of controversy as many people thought it was almost impossible to recover the investment.

It was announced that 70% of the tickets will be sold at low prices for ordinary citizens, while 10% of the tickets will be sold at relatively expensive prices for different market segments. For its operation, 60% of the high operating cost must be subsidized between the Chinese Government and the municipal authorities of Beijing.