The exterior of Guangming Culture and Art Center. 

This fall, Guangming Culture and Art Center marks the fourth anniversary of its official opening.

The cultural landmark of Guangming District is flanked by the Xincheng Park in the north and a Maozhou River tributary in the south.

In front of the building, an artificial pond measuring 170 meters long and 18 meters wide forms the instagrammable "Eye of Light" together with an arched entrance. In addition to the 452-seat concert hall and the art museum, the center also has a 1,500-seat theater, a library and an exhibition hall. The venue has become a go-to venue for art fans in the district, with shows staged regularly since September 2020.

Between October and December, some 20 concerts and shows are scheduled to mark the center's anniversary. Here are some of the performances that may kindle the interest of our readers.

Star-studded concerts

A group of musicians led by Martha Argerich will grace the venue this November with two classical music concerts.

The two concerts will feature different programs and lineups. The complete ensemble will include violist and conductor Lyda Chen-Argerich, pianists Theodosia Ntokou and Li Jian, violinists Gil Shaham and Marie-Françoise Pallot, cellist Edgar Moreau, and the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra.

Time: 8 p.m., Nov. 1 (Starry Night I); 8 p.m., Nov. 2 (Starry Night II)

Huangmei opera

Led by Huangmei opera star Wu Qiong, the Ma'anshan Four Seasons Opera Theater from Anhui Province will perform "Tian Xian Pei" ("Wed to the Fairy") late November.

Based on a Chinese legend, the story evolves around an escapade of Jade Emperor's youngest daughter who, during a journey to the mortal world, falls in love with a farm hand and marries him. The couple is in the end separated by Jade Emperor who wouldn't allow his daughter to marry a mortal.

Time: 8 p.m., Nov. 23

Dance drama

Directed by Lang Kun, a producer of China's CCTV, the dance drama "The Flowers of War" is based on the storyline of its namesake movie by veteran Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou. Scriptwriter Feng Shuangbai penned the script for the 120-minute show.

With elaborate stage set and delicate costumes, the show tells the story of how 13 prostitutes, hidden in a church with girl students during the Japanese invasion of Nanjing during World War II, stood up to "entertain" the Japanese soldiers at their camp in place of the students. The story of sacrifice and honor is beautifully interpreted with exquisite dance moves.

Time: 8 p.m., Dec. 14; 3 p.m., Dec. 15

Sonata concert

French Aurélienne Brauner, principal cellist with the National Orchestra of France, will perform a chamber concert late November.

Time: 8 p.m., Nov. 23

East meets West on strings

Veteran violinist Yao Jue and the Hong Kong String Orchestra she founded will perform a concert, featuring a program of adapted Hong Kong pops alongside Western and Chinese pieces.

Yao studied first at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, then at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music with Zaven Melikian on a scholarship, and then at the Juilliard School with Dorothy DeLay. She regularly performs alongside orchestras around the world and appears at music festivals. She plays on a 1713 Stradivarius violin.

Time: 8 p.m., Nov. 30

Chen Moye piano recital

Beijing-born pianist Chen Moye will give a piano recital, performing the most challenging works by Brahms and demonstrating his virtuosity and unique understanding of music.

Chen graduated with a master's degree from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, where he is a piano teacher. He also has an artist diploma and a doctorate of musical arts respectively conferred by the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and the University of Illinois.

He has won multiple awards at competitions, including the 11th Sydney International Piano Competition and the 58th Cincinnati World Piano Competition.

Time: 8 p.m., Dec. 7

Venue: Guangming Culture and Art Center, Guangming District

Metro: Line 6 to Fenghuang Town Station, Exit B, then walk around 800 meters