In the late 1990s they relented, and in September 1998 the opera was performed for eight nights as Turandot at the Forbidden City, complete with opulent sets and soldiers from the People's Liberation Army as extras.
I slutningen af 1990'erne blev forbuddet opgivet, og i september 1998 blev operaen opført otte gange i Den forbudte by med overdådige kulisser og soldater fra folkets befrielseshær som statister.