This futuristic Chinese opera house looks like a spaceship

China may have recently put out a ban on "weird architecture," but this stunning opera house, recently opened in the northern city of Harbin, has evaded the ban.

Following in the tradition of iconic opera houses around the globe - think of Sydney's well-known waterside structure, or the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles - Harbin now has its own unique cathedral to the classic art.

Designed by MAD Architects, a Beijing-based firm responsible for major projects around the globe, the opera house is intended to look like an organic outgrowth of its environment. It's full of natural materials, undulating shapes, and innovative ways to bring light into a massive space.

Check out the futuristic images below.