Martial art during the Peking Opera performance [Photo by Swarup Anda]

Peking Opera is one of the five Chinese operas. As the quintessence of China, Peking Opera has abundant repertoires and various artistic forms. The four main roles (Sheng, Dan, Jing, and Chou) have various appearances, and the four means of artistic presentation (singing, dialogue, dancing, and martial art) have high artistic tension. Through 160 years' development, Peking Opera has become the crystallisation of Chinese people's wisdom and the treasure of Chinese culture and art.

A performer is putting on make-up [Photo by Erkan Kalenderli]

Various kinds of costumes, facial make-up, and artistic presentation have reinforced the artistic tension of Peking Opera [Photo by Alaa el din mohsen]

Photo provided by Beijing People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries