The Ya’an 1869 Panda Performing Arts Center has deployed comprehensive L-Acoustics professional sound systems across its multiple performance venues, marking China's most ambitious audio installation dedicated to panda conservation awareness and cultural education.
The Center’s three distinct audio environments combine L-Acoustics K series, A series, X series, and S series technologies to deliver exceptional sound quality for educational programming, live performances, and community events.
Located within the Ya’an Bifengxia Panda Base—one of four designated premises under the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda—the performing arts complex represents a milestone in conservation education through the arts. Ya’an holds unique historical significance as the location where the first giant panda was introduced to the world in 1869.
Ya’an’s significance extends beyond simply being the home of giant pandas—it’s where panda conservation and global awareness began, making it the natural location for China’s most ambitious panda-themed performance complex. The venue’s programming combines educational content about species conservation with entertainment, requiring audio systems that deliver both the clarity needed for educational comprehension and the emotional impact necessary for memorable experiences.
The Ya’an 1869 Panda Performing Arts Center opened in February 2025 with the premiere of “Panda Is Back” a theatrical production that combines entertainment and education about panda conservation.
Ning Zhaoqi, system designer from L-Acoustics Certified Provider Rightway Audio Consultants (RAC), who designed and installed the systems, said: “In educational entertainment, every word of narration, every environmental sound effect, and every musical element must be crystal clear. Clarity directly impacts the audience’s comprehension and emotional engagement.”
System engineers from RAC used L-Acoustics Soundvision software to optimise coverage across all three venue types, ensuring consistent audio quality regardless of seating location or venue size.
The Center’s 1200-seat main theatre employs a sophisticated LCR system configuration comprising six L-Acoustics K3i enclosures per side, with two A15i Focus and two A15i Wide positioned above the stage for centre channel coverage. Four A10i boxes provide in-fill coverage, ensuring consistent sound quality across all seating areas. Six KS21i and four KS28 subwoofers provide the dynamic range necessary for both dramatic musical moments and subtle environmental soundscapes.
A notable feature of the installation is the deployment of L-Acoustics X12 in multiple configurations throughout the theatre. Beyond their traditional role as stage monitors for performers, the X12 also serve as overhead reinforcement—a sophisticated approach that adds vertical dimension to the sound field without requiring full immersive audio processing.
RAC's lead engineer, Shi Zhuohao, explained: “The overhead speaker configuration gives us tremendous flexibility. For environmental sounds like bamboo forests or mountain winds, the overhead elements create a natural sense of space that supports the authenticity of the content.”
The Center's 1,200-seat performance hall used L-Acoustics X8i systems as the main PA, with SB18 IIi subwoofers providing low-frequency extension. This configuration accommodates the venue’s diverse programming, from intimate educational presentations to live musical performances celebrating regional culture.
Audio control is managed through a DiGiCo Quantum 225 mixing console, providing the precision and reliability required for the venue's demanding schedule of educational programming and special events.
The complex’s outdoor plaza benefits from L-Acoustics Syva and Syva Low. The streamlined design of the S series integrated with the venue’s aesthetic while providing powerful SPL capabilities through a 140-degree coverage pattern.
The Ya’an 1869 Panda Performing Arts Center demonstrates how professional audio technology enhances cultural education and conservation awareness. RAC's Shi concluded: “When you’re presenting content that carries the cultural weight of China’s most beloved species and the scientific importance of conservation research, technical excellence becomes a responsibility. The L-Acoustics professional sound systems ensure that every educational moment, every cultural reference, and every conservation message reaches audiences with the clarity and impact these subjects deserve.”