Best bets

Jingju Theater Company of Beijing - The Pearl Shirt

Date: Feb 17 - 7:30 pm

Venue: National Centre for the Performing Arts, Beijing

Price: 80-360 yuan

The emperor of the Song Dynasty (960-1279) Zhao Guangyi hunts with Princess Chai Meichun in the borderland, where they are captured by a military officer of the Liao Dynasty (907-1125). Yang Yanzhao passes by Tongtai and saves the emperor and princess. Minister Fu Long's son Fu Dingkui comes as well, and the emperor of the Song Dynasty thinks it is Fu that saves them, so he betroths the princess to him. Nevertheless, the princess admires Yang for his handsome looks and presents a pearl shirt to him. After many setbacks, the misunderstanding is explained with the aid of the emperor's brother and the newly-elected number one scholar Lyu Jia, who helps to distinguish between what is true and false. Yang and the princess finally get married to live happily ever after. Established in 1979, Jingju Theatre Company of Beijing is the largest professional performing arts ensembles of Peking Opera in China. The theater not only plays a key role in China's traditional opera circle but also enjoys a high overseas reputation.