The Beijing Opera
Beijing opera or Peking opera (京剧 jīngjù) became the court theater of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) after provincial opera troupes came to Beijing to perform for the 80th birthday of the Qianlong Emperor in 1790. Peking opera combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance, and acrobatics. Performers usually spend several hours applying their makeup prior to the performance.