The unique theatrical synthesis of song and dance. Actiong and acrobatics known as Peking Opera began to emerge in its present form around 200 years ago. Though the Beijing variety is world-famous, there are many different provincial versions of the art throughout China.

In the early part of the 20th century, millions went to the opera house--------more like a teahouse or a variety theatre----and largely through the actiong genius of the late Mei Lanfang(1894-196), Peking Opera even influenced Western artists such as Charles Spencer Chaplin in England and playwright Bertold Brecht(1898-1956) in Germany.

Recently, traditional opera has undergone something of a renaissance and there are performances nightly in Beijing. Overseas tourists should not miss the opportunity to see on, even though the tourist will be baffled by much of it. Most operas are based on folk mythology or classical literature but don’t worry about the plots (even many Chinese have difficulty following the archaic language and the words of songs are usually screened at the side of the stage to assist audiences). What impress the audiences most are the sumptuous costumes and make-up and the acrobatic battle scenes(like circus performers, opera artists are rigorously trained from early childhood). Everything in the opera has significance-----from the embroidery on a robe indicating the wearer’s rank to the pattern and colout of his make-up, expressing character. As in other Asian dance forms, gestures, even of fingers and eyes, are all-important. And mime is a key element. Very few people are used and it si up to the actor to show, by lifting a foot that he is going through a doorway, or by waving a whip that he is riding a horse.

Swords and staves wil be brandished and twirled at breakneck speed in flight sequences without the actors ever touching one another. For the aficionados, it is the singing that matters (old timers talk of “listening to” rather than “watching “an opera), but the lengthy arias may seem strange to ears raised on Western harmonies.

Like wise the harsh, percussive sounds of the orchestra, which sites on one side of the stage and is led by an er hu, or two-stringed Chinese fiddle.