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Pekin Opera - A must to see while you are in Beijing!

Beijing Opera was born out of a wedding between two provincial opera styles from Anhui and Hubei during the Qing Dynasty (19th century). it also borrowed from other regional operas and Kunqu, a 500 year old Chinese musical theatre-style.

Peking Opera combines stylized acting with singing, dancing, musical dialogue, martial arts, colorful facial make up and fantastic costumes.

PEKIN OPERA

pekin opera

Why go? For the same amount of time as a movie and about 20$/ person, a night at the Opera guarantees you a glimpse at China's past. Not to mention that this fascinanting mix of drama, color, movement and sound might be one of the most memorable of yout trip.

You can catch an opera performance any night of the week in Beijing for Y50 - Y200. Shows begin around 7pm, with more options on weekends. You can buy your tickets online through: www.piao.com.cn . You can also register online and pay by credit card or call 6417-7845.

Siheyuan, which means a courtyard surrounded by houses on all the four sides, take shape in the Liao Dynasty, it matured through the Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties and become the traditional residential compound of Beijing.

A regular Beijing siheyuan house is built in hutong (a lane) running from east to west, and faces south, with a total area about 200 m2. The four houses are enclosed with high walls. The north house which is the principal one.

The main gate is opened in the southeast corner, the position of xun in the Taoist Eight Diagrams, signifying the wind and is composed of over twenty types of components, such as frames, leaves, thresholds, bolts, nails and hinges.

SIHEYUAN "THE QUADRANGLE"

siheyuan

Behind the main gate are the festooned gate and the moon-shaped gate. The lotus-shaped ends of the columns on both sides, are colorfully lacquered and carved with patterns symbols of good luck which reflect old Beijing dwellers’ wish for a happy life, such as the combination of the character meaning longevity and the bat (meaning happiness), the vase with a Chinese rose in it (meaning ‘peace in four seasons’), and tokens of ‘long-lasting clan’, ‘three friends in winter’, ‘riches and honor’, and ‘happiness, wealth and longevity’.

Pomegranate trees (symbol of fertility) like oleanders, cassiabark trees, osmanthus fragans, Indian azaleas, flowers such as lilacs, Chinese crabapples, mountain peaches, and gardenias are planted in the siheyuan to add to its beauty.

Hutong represents an important culture element of Beijing city. Thanks to Beijing’s long history and superior status as capital for six dynasties, almost every hutong has its anecdotes, and some are even associated with historic events. In contrast to the court life and elite culture represented by the Forbidden City, Summer Palace and the Temple of Heaven, the hutongs reflect the culture of grassroots Beijingers. The hutong are residential neighborhoods that still form the heart of Old Beijing.

Written by Beijing Apartments Team, May 2008

HUTONG

hutong

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