The Central Academy of Drama is the first higher educational institution for theatre art of the People's Republic of China and now it is affiliated to China's Ministry of Education. It is ranked as one of the best top-level Theatre, Film & Television arts institutions in China and has been included in the country’s ‘Double First-class’ University Plan. The Central Academy of Drama is the headquarters of China Alliance of Theatre Higher Educational Institutes, Asia Theatre Education Centre (ATEC) and World Theatre Education Alliance (WTEA). It is a world famous higher educational institution of arts.

The history of the Central Academy of Drama dates back to more than 80 years, to April 10th, 1938, when Yan An Lu Xun Art College was established. The Central Academy of Drama opened officially in December, 1949 and held the inaugural conference on 2nd of April, 1950. Chairman Mao Zedong inscribed the official name in calligraphy.

The Central Academy of Drama has two campuses, with the original one located at No. 39 Dong Mianhua Hutong, Dongcheng District, and the new one at No.4 Hong Fu Middle Rd, Changping District. The area in total reaches 230, 000 m2, and the construction area is about 180,000 m2.

This world-famous higher educational institution of arts has 13 academic departments including Department of Acting, Department of Directing, Department of Stage Design, Department of Dramatic Literature,Department of Musical Theatre, Department of Peking Opera, Department of Western Opera, Department of Dance Theatre, Department of Theatre Pedagogy, Department of Theatre Management, Department of Film and TV Art, Department of Theatrology, andDepartment of Science Theatre. Majors offered at the undergraduate level include: Acting, Quyi (Chinese Melodious Art), Directing, Art Design for Theatre and Film & TV, Recording Art, Theatrical, Film and TV Literature, Theatre Studies, Musical Theatre, Theatre Pedagogy, Art Management, and Broadcast & Anchoring. The Academy has authorized programmes for master’s and doctoral degrees in Art Studies, Studies of Theatre, Film & TV Arts, and Studies of Xiqu and Quyi. The Academy also has a post-doctoral research station.

As the highest seat of learning dedicated to theatre, film and TV arts, the Academy has the only state-level teaching team in Acting, the only state-level characteristic major of Directing, the only national innovative experimental zone for talents cultivation in Musical Acting, and the only state-level demonstration centre for experimental teaching in Studies of Drama, Film & TV. The ‘Intelligent Dramatic Art Space’ has been approved by the Ministry of Education to be a Key Laboratory. The Academy also acts as headquarters of many national and international organizations, including China Committee for Promoting Art Education, China Drama Association, Committee of Directing Arts of China Theatre Association, International Stage Arts Network, China Association of Stage Arts, China Centre of OISTAT, China Centre of International Association of Theatre Critics, China Stage Art Educational Alliance, Education Committee of China Musical Theatre Association, Research Centre on Theatrical Pedagogy of China’s Primary & Secondary Schools, China Collaborative Innovation Centre for Theatre Arts Management, ‘Belt & Road’ International Film Education Alliance, and World Dance Drama Education Alliance.

Throughout the Academy’s long history, it has been upholding the principle of realism, inherits Chinese aesthetic traditions and absorbs the best from other cultures. The Academy values a solid foundation and stresses practice, and pursues the spirit of ‘Truth, Creation and Perfection’ in training professionals in Theatre, Film & TV Art for the country and the world. A majority of graduates have become world-famous artists, scholars, professors and writers, who have made remarkable contributions to the prosperity and development of Chinese theatre, film & TV industry.

Facing the future, the Central Academy of Drama will grasp the opportunities of the deepening of higher education reform and accelerate the development of the education system. It strives to increase the quality of education and its management, enhance teaching quality and reform in teaching, and strengthen the construction of discipline and high-level faculty team. The Academy also promotes organizational innovations, and carries out multilateral exchanges and cooperation with drama education institutions around the world, to improve the Academy’s comprehensive strength and overall quality. The Central Academy of Drama maintains its strength as one of the top-level art institutions in the world with distinctive features.