"A little of both, if I am to be completely honest with you, Sallie. I have it on good authority that the National Centre for the Performing Arts is hard to miss, but have not seen it myself. Where we are dining this evening boasts having the most beautiful view of the opera house the city has to offer."

So...there's that.
Splinter assumes the opera house itself will be a call back to classical Chinese architecture, in short...he is not prepared.