Chinese Opera 中国戏曲

Chinese opera falls into more than 300 forms of traditional operas, of which Peking Opera（京剧，Jīngjù）is the most popular. Peking Opera evolved from Kunqu Opera（昆曲，Kūnqǔ）, an even more ancient art of drama listed by UNESCO in 2001 among the first group of works representing humankind through oral history. Other popular local operas include Yueju（越剧，Yuèjù）(Shaoxing Opera（绍剧，Shàojù）from Zhejiang), Huangmeixi（黄梅戏，Huángméixì）(from Anhui), Chuanju（川剧，Chuānjù）(Sichuan Opera), Yuju（豫剧，Yùjù）(Henan Opera), and Yueju（粤剧，Yuèjù ） (Guangdong Opera). Peking Opera developed in early 19th-century Beijing and presents singing, music, chanting, dancing and martial arts all in one stage performance. The dramatic masks and costumes of Peking Opera are world-renowned. Famous Peking Opera actors and actresses over the years included Mei Lanfang（梅兰芳，Méi Lánfāng）, Cheng Yanqiu（程砚秋，Chéng Yànqiū）, Ma Lianliang（马连良，Mǎ Liánliáng）, Zhou Xinfang（周信芳，Zhōu Xìnfāng）and Du Jinfang（杜近芳，Dù Jìnfāng）. Since the 1990s, the emergence of highly talented young performers has helped demonstrate the continued importance of Peking Opera in Chinese culture. In recent years, the Peking Opera Theatre of China has experimented with incorporating western symphonic music in its productions.