The National Center of the Performing Arts is a dynamic new icon to the arts in the heart of old Beijing. The Centre's ultra-modern architecture is in sharp contrast to its neighbours, the Great Hall of the People, Tian'anmen Square and the ancient Forbidden City. The National Centre for the Performing Arts is far more than a spectacular and futuristic building. It is China's new face on the performing arts. It is a stage for the world's greatest artists. It will showcase China's burgeoning international stars and celebrate the creativity of its many ethnic cultures. The Centre hosted its first official concert on December 22, 2007, signaling a coming of age for performance art in China. Three main performance venues, along with a host of resource facilities, are cunningly housed under the Centre's ellipsoid shell.

The 2008 World Folk Song Festival is an event organized jointly by the Bureau for External Cultural Relations, Ministry of Culture, the Publicity Department of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and the National Centre for the Performing Arts.
The Festival has introduced Chinese audiences to some of the finest folk music and traditions from around the world. It has also offered a context for cultural dialogue and exchange between the artists of many nations. The Festival has been composed of events such as opening and closing galas, concerts, forums, meetings, exhibitions and many more other activities.
The 2008 World Folk Song Festival has been the feast for folk music artists from around the world.