Known as China's national opera, Peking Opera originated in the late 18th century. It is a synthesis of dance, music and acrobatics.

Based upon traditional Anhui Opera, it has also adopted repertoire, folk tunes and performing skills from other local operas.

Peking Opera can be divided into "civil" pieces, which are characterized by singing, and "martial" ones, which feature acrobatics and stunts.

Its operatic dialogues and monologues are recited in Beijing dialect.

The actors and actresses use well-established movements while singing, such as adjusting a hat, jerking a sleeve or raising a foot, to express certain emotions.

There are four roles in general, including the male (Sheng), the female (Dan), the "painted face" (Jing) and the clown (Chou), to be further classified by age and profession. Each role has its fixed singing and acting styles.

Sheng can be divided into the old, the young and the martial arts expert.

Numerous schools and celebrated performers have emerged in the past 200 years, and are emulated by today's actors and actresses.

Among those famous names, masters to play aged male roles, or laosheng, are Cheng Changgeng, Tan Xinpei, Zhou Xinfang and the "Four Great Performers to play Laosheng (Yu Shuyan, Ma Lianliang, Yan Jupeng and Gao Qingkui)."

(China Daily March 30, 2006)