Peking Opera - the national opera of China and the most influential opera in China
Last Update: 8th October 2020
What is the Peking Opera?
Since 1790, Sanqing, Sixi, Chuntai and Hechun, the four cast of An’hui Opera, which were originally performed in South China, entered Beijing one by one. They cooperated with the artists of Han Tune from Hubei.
They combined An’hui Opera with some of the repertoires, tunes and performance methods of Kun Opera and Qinqiang Opera and some local folk tunes. Finally, Peking Opera was created.
They combined An’hui Opera with some of the repertoires, tunes and performance methods of Kun Opera and Qinqiang Opera and some local folk tunes. Finally, Peking Opera was created.
Interested in visiting Peking Opera during a Beijing Tour?
Wendy Wei Tours offers a variety of different packaged tours as well as custom tours including Peking Opera, among other attractions and destinations. To find out more, please visit our Tours page or Contact Us directly to find out more.
What to expect at the Peking OperaIn the aspects of literature, performance, music, singing, gongs and drums, make-up, and facial expressions, Peking Opera stage art has formed a set of rules and norms that are mutually restrictive and complement each other through the long-term stage practice of countless artists.
The four artistic techniques of Peking Opera performance: singing, speaking, dancing, and acrobatic fighting. They are also the four basic skills of Peking Opera performances. The opera actors will get training for these four aspects from an early age. Everything on the stage of Peking Opera does not appear in the original appearance of life. The characters on the stage of Peking Opera do not appear according to the original appearance of people in life, but according to the gender, character, age, occupation and social status of the role. Some art exaggeration are employed in various aspects of makeup and clothing, so that the characters on the stage are divided into four types: sheng (good men), Dan (good women), jing (some special male characters in character, quality or appearance), and chou (comedic role). Peking opera accompaniment instruments can be divided into percussion instruments and orchestral instruments. Percussion instruments includes boards, single-skin drums, gongs, cymbals, etc. Orchestral instruments include Beijing opera fiddle, Jing Erhu, yueqin and sanxian. The most popular theaters for Peking Opera offering high-quiality Peking Opera in Beijing are as follows.
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Best time to visit the Peking Opera
Most of Peking Opera is performed in the evening.
How to get to the theaters of the Peking Opera
There are several buses passing by the theaters mentioned above. Therefore, there are several options.
- Rent a vehicle to the theater. This is the quickest and most direct option.
- Take Bus 6, 15, 822 and Bus 687 to the Stop of Yong’an Road (永安路站) for Liyuan Theater.
- Take Bus 6, 14, 15 and Bus 23 to the Stop of Hufang Bridge (虎坊桥站) for Huguang Guild Hall.
- Take Bus 13, 19 and Bus 21 to the Stop of Fucheng Gate (阜成门站). Then walk to Chang’an Grand Theater
Additional Peking Opera Travel Advice
- Please check out opening hours for your preferred theater for Peking Opera or contact us via email (info@wendyweitours.com)beforehand.
- Please find more information on Peking Opera that you will understand it more when watching it.
- Please keep quiet at the theater.
Interested in visiting Peking Opera on a Tour?
Wendy Wei Tours offers a variety of different packaged tours as well as custom tours including Peking Opera, among other attractions and destinations. To find out more, please visit our Tours page or Contact Us directly to find out more.