Peking Opera

Peking Opera has entertained audiences for more than 200 years with its elaborate costumes, ear-splitting arias, dazzling martial arts and musical dialogue. Most Peking Operas unintelligible viewer, but they are usually based on folk tales, famous novels and fairy tales and are a pleasure to water if you know the basic story. The theatre has subtitle message so even if you don't know the story you can still follow along. Characters are classified into three basic categories: the male roles, called “sheng” ,female roles or “dan”, and clown or “chou”. The nature of each character is shown through evili or sly, and black and white face makeup denotes anthority.

In the early days of the 20 th century, millions went to the opera house –more like a teahouse or a variety theatre- and largely through the acting genius of the late Mei Lanfang(894-1961), Peking Opera even influenced Western artists such as Charles Spencer Chaplin(1889-1977) in England and Playwright Bertold Brecht (1898-1956) in Germany .

Only things that are national in style will be accepted internationally.

Acrobatics

The Chinese acrobatics has a long history and rich national flavour. It is one of the art forms most popular among the Chinese people. It has a distinct style evolving from everyday life and work. Despite the advent of dazzling film shows and song-and-dance performances, acrobatics now still shines as one of the brightest stars in Chinese culture. With about 2.500 years of hidtory, Chinese acrobatics has won the nation the title of “ Kingdom of Acrobatics ,” and the Chinese acrobatic troupes have traveled to many countries and regions the world over and have amazed audiences everywhere.

Since 1949, the people's government has made great efforts to foster and develop national arts and acrobatics has gained a new life. All provinces, autonomous regions and provinces have set up their own acrobatic troupes. The acrobatic art of the new China has not only made great improvement in its contents and skill but also set up a designing and directing system, aiming at creating graceful stage images, of costumes , props and lighting so as to bring zbout a full-fledged stage art. The present Chinese acrobatics is full of optimism and well reflects the industry, resourcefulness, courage, and dauntlessness of the Chinese people.