Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Entertainment
There's far more to Běijīng than imperial palaces, temples and
museums. As the cultural capital of China, it's the best place to
be if you're interested in seeing anything from ballet and con-
temporary dance to jazz or punk bands. Then there's the tradi-
tional local pastimes such as Peking opera ( jīngjù ) and acrobat-
ic shows, as well as movies, theatre and Běijīng's various sports
teams.
Live Music
While there might be an instinctive Chinese fondness for Taiwanese boy bands, Beijingers
have always been at the forefront of the more soulful end of the Chinese music scene. Now,
you can find all sorts of bands - indie, alternative, punk, metal, folk and jazz - lifting roofs
every night of the week. Sadly, though, the capital remains a backwater for international
rock and pop acts, very few of whom make it out here.
Acrobatics & Peking Opera
Two thousand years old, Chinese acrobatics is one of the best shows in town and there are
daily performances at a number of different theatres. Look out too for the legendary,
shaven-headed Shàolín monks, who pass through the capital regularly to put on displays of
their fearsome fighting skills.
Far more sedate, but equally intriguing, is Peking opera, also known as Běijīng opera. It
might seem impenetrable to foreigners, its mystique reinforced by the costumes, singing
style and, of course, the language, but live performances are actually relatively easy to fol-
low. Plot lines are simple (rather like Shakespearean tragedy, including the low comic re-
lief) and the shows are a more interactive experience than you might imagine.
