The charms of Beijing stem, first of all, from her authentic oriental cultural aura. As a famed old cultural city of the East and the cultural center of contemporary China. Beijing is steeped in a peculiar age-old cultural tradition that is as mature and splendid as the places of historical and cultural interest that pockmark the land.
With a history of nearly 200 years, Peking Opera is quintessential of traditional Chinese culture and holds an important position in the world treasure house of art. The singing in Peking Opera is highly variegated of rhythm and pitch, and the dancing has incorporated traditional Chinese martial art stunts. The facial makeup, colorful costumes and headgear of the characters never fail to hold the theatergoers enthralled. A stage costume is in itself a precious object of art. Apart from Peking Opera, the theatre of the Chinese capital abounds in local genres, such as the kunqu opera, the pingju opera, and the Hebgei clapper opera. Other local obsessions include witty talk shows, dagu (versified tales sung to the accompaniment of a small drum and other instruments), and danxian (story telling to stringed musical instruments). Puppet shows go back to 2,000 years ago in China. The numbers staged by the China Puppet Troupe are known for their vivid, flexible and some what exaggerated artistic features.
Acrobatics if another Chinese performing art that commands a popularity among visitors to Beijing. The China Acrobatic Troupe and the Beijing Acrobatic Troupe are both staffed with some of the country's finest acrobats who have many international awards under their belts.
Visitors to Beijing also have the opportunity to attend full-length dramas, operas and ballet, as well concerts staged by China's best philharmonic orchestras.
Folklore performances are available in some places of Beijing. Tianloule Teahouse, Dashalan Tourist Street south of Tian'an men Square, Lao She Teahouse, and Liyuan theatre are where visitors are entertained with state-of-the-art folk performances.
There are a myriad of recreational facilities in Beijing. Hundreds of hotels in the city are equipped with such facilities as golf courses, tennis courts, bowling alleys, swimming pools, roller-skating rings, fishing pools and horse racing courts. Nightclubs, recreational centers, discotheques, and cultural clubs can be found in every district of the city.
A number of bio-tour centers have emerged in Beijing recently. These include Beijing Wildlife Zoo, Badaling Bear Garden, and Beijing Birds' Paradise, where visitors can feed, frolic with or even cuddle some of the rare and precious animals and birds.
Festivals are part and parcel of Beijing's cultural life. Major ones are Spring Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, National Day and New Year's Day. Flower fairs, temple fairs and lantern shows are held during the period that spans Spring Festival and Lantern Festival. Beijing is the site of eight major temple fairs, including the ones held at Longtan Pool, Temple of Earth and Dongyue Temple. A series of tourist festivals are held annually in the capital city, such as Beijing Music Festival, international Choir Festival, Chinese Art Exhibition, Beijing International Tourist Cultural Festival, and Ice and Snow Festival of Yanqing County.
THEATRES IN BEIJING
NAME ADD YEAR OF ESTABLISHMENT WHAT TEL
Tianqiao Happiness Teahouse 113 Tianqiao Market 1933 Assorted forms of folk art 63040617
Lao She Teahouse 3 Qianmen Xidajie December 1998 Assorted forms of folk art 68036830
Prince Gong Theatre 14 Liuyin Street, Xicheng District Qing Dynasty Peking Opera 66157671
Liyuan Theatre 1/F Qianmen Hotel Qing Dynasty Peking Opera 63016688-8860
Huguang Guild Hall 3 Hufanglu Xuanwu District 1807 Peking Opera and others 63518284
Grand View Garden Theatre Grand View Garden Qing Dynasty Peking Opera 63519025
Chang'an Theatre 7 Jianguomennei Dajie 1937 Peking Opera and other forms of folk art 65101155
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