Can't leave Beijing without watching the Opera by joyful_sun
Beijing Opera is out of tune, wacky, fun, fast and entertaining. We watched it in the Liyuan Theater in the Qianmen Hotel. In the front part of the theater which was like the VIP area, the setting is a sit down-tea house style with chairs, tables, snacks and tea, while at the back part where we sat, it was pretty much movie-theater style seats. There is also a screen at the side of the stage that has English subtitles so you understand the plot. The opera has colorful costumes and makeup, donned with cartwheels, acrobatic kung fu style moves, it is both comedy and drama. Show starts at 7:30PM, if you come early you can watch the actors put on their make up. You'll either love it or hate it. Me, I simply loved it since its one show where I didnt fall asleep...(slept through Phantom of the Opera, Les Mis, etc)
