A three-week-long trial shows period at China's newly-built National Grand Theater had brought in 3.5 million yuan (US$466,045) by the end of Friday, Qianlong.com reported.

The trial run, starting on September 25, has offered 23 shows at the theater, known as "Egg," including seven classic performances such as the ballets The Red Detachment of Women and Swan Lake, the report said.

Tickets for the shows were only available to organized groups during the trials period.

Shows staged at the theater will be accessible to individuals after it officially opens to the public, the report added.

Designed by French architect Paul Andreu, the National Grand Theater, which is located to the west of Tiananmen Square, boasts three gigantic halls -- a 2,416-seat opera house, a 2,017-seat concert hall and a 1,040-seat theater.

The huge "egg," covered with titanium panels and surrounded by water and greenery, is expected to set aside about 100 low-priced standing room tickets for low-income art fans, which will cost only a few dozen yuan.

The theater will also arrange nearly 300 non-commercial shows every year to promote the arts.

From December to March, 183 programs will be held in the theater, 30 percent of which will be overseas shows while artists from more than 10 countries and regions, including Russia, the United States and Italy, will stage performances.

(Shanghai Daily October 16, 2007)