The true face of the Chinese National Grand Theater was unveiled in Beijing on Monday when the protection film of the last 30 titanium boards was peeled off.

The controversial construction is nearly completed - the interior will be finished by the end of this year. Designed by the French architect Paul Andreu, work began in December 2001 after four years of deliberation among the country's policy makers.

Located in the heart of Beijing, near Tiananmen Square, the theater is a modern-style building which stands out from its surroundings.

"The major construction of the theater was covered with nearly 20,000 of titanium boards," said Wang Zhengming, who is in charge of the construction project. "It takes us half a month to peel off the protection film of such a large construction."

Shaped like a tear drop, the silver theater has sparked debate among domestic experts on whether such an modern design was appropriate for the center of Beijing. However, it was listed among the top ten architectural miracles by the U.S.-based Journal Business Week for its energy-saving and environmentally friendly design.

The imposing building, occupying an area of some 149,500 square meters, comprises three gigantic halls, including a 2,416-seat opera house, a 2,017-seat concert hall and a 1,040-seat theater.

"We have not yet decided who will be in charge of the daily operation of this national theater," Chinese Minister of Culture Sun Jiazheng told Xinhua. Many foreign troupes are eager to win the first performance contract with the theater.

With an investment totaling 2.69 billion yuan (about 336 million U.S. dollars) and covering a construction area of 200,000 square meters, the theater is the biggest cultural project during China's Tenth Five-Year Plan period (2001-2005).

"Therefore, we should select first-class troupes and state-of-art performances that can match the construction," Sun said, adding China is now open to all good artistic products showcasing diverse cultures.

During its construction, Wang noted, the National Grand Theater also suffered money shortages due to rising costs of raw materials. But the construction was never delayed thanks to national support and cost-saving measures.

He also revealed that the construction is scheduled to be gradually completed next June.

(Xinhua News Agency May 17, 2006)