To understand better the Chinese culture, you have to know something about the opera culture in China. There are many kinds of local operas in our country. Peking Opera is considered the representative type.

As an independent opera form, Peking Opera was born between 1840 and 1860. It evolved / originated from / formed by absorbing the creams / essentials / essential elements of other local operas.

In Peking Opera there is a clear division of roles; the language used is Beijing speech / dialect; and huqin, a two-stringed bower fiddle, is the major accompanying musical instrument.

Because Peking Opera has combined the cream of various local operas, it is enjoyed not only by Beijing residents / local residents in Beijing, but also by people from all over the country.