San Francisco Opera Planned China Tour for Monkey King
The company has signed an agreement with the Shanghai Grand Opera House to bring the new production abroad.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Opera
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Local opera fans may soon see the production of The Monkey King travel to China following its successful Western debut in San Francisco this past November. The San Francisco Opera has formalized a new partnership with the Shanghai Grand Opera House to facilitate the tour.
Why it matters
For a city where one in five residents identifies as having Chinese heritage, this cultural exchange acts as a diplomatic bridge alongside the region's existing technological and sister-city ties. The project aims to build on long-standing connections between San Francisco and China that date back to 1980.
The production is backed by a $5 million donation from Jensen and Lori Huang, supporting a work commissioned by the San Francisco Opera and the Chinese Heritage Foundation of Minnesota. Tour logistics remain under development with potential performances in Shanghai and Shenzhen.
The players
Matthew Shilvock
As the general director of San Francisco Opera, he oversees the company's artistic direction and international partnerships.
Daniel Lurie
The Mayor of San Francisco who visited Shanghai earlier in 2026 to foster city-to-city relations.
Armstrong Music & Arts
A Beijing-based arts organization currently collaborating with the opera on venue logistics for the tour.
Shanghai Grand Opera House
The partner institution in Shanghai that recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the San Francisco Opera.
The details
General director Matthew Shilvock is coordinating with Beijing-based Armstrong Music & Arts to secure venues for the upcoming tour. The memorandum of understanding signed with the Shanghai Grand Opera House creates a framework for future joint productions and ongoing artist exchanges between the two cities. This initiative follows the company's successful 2017 tour of Dream of the Red Chamber to multiple Chinese cities.
Timeline
1980: San Francisco and Shanghai formed a sister-city relationship.
2017: The production Dream of the Red Chamber toured Chinese cities.
November: The Monkey King made its Western operatic debut in San Francisco.
April 2026: Mayor Daniel Lurie visited Shanghai.
Across the Bay
This production follows the precedent set by the San Francisco Opera's 2017 tour of Dream of the Red Chamber. The current agreement extends that history of cultural exchange to bring new works to Chinese audiences.
Residents can follow local arts announcements for updates on whether the production will have additional encore performances in San Francisco before departing for the tour. The agreement signals a long-term shift toward more international collaboration for our city's performing arts organizations.
The takeaway
The Monkey King demonstrates how private philanthropy and cultural institutions can maintain international dialogue. Keep an eye on future announcements from the San Francisco Opera for potential tour dates and final performance schedules.
Further reading
For more news on local productions and institutional partnerships, visit the San Francisco Opera section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Chinadaily.
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