What's on

A jaded view

When speaking about the Hongshan culture, which dates back to somewhere between 5,000 and 6,500 years, what most often comes to mind is the beauty of jade objects buried in the tombs of this Neolithic civilization. The pieces help people today understand the social ranks, ceremonies and customs of the Hongshan culture, of which several sites have been found and are being excavated continuously in an area stretching from the Inner Mongolia autonomous region to Liaoning province in northern China. Jade from Hongshan, an archaeology exhibition now underway at the National Museum of China, and set to run through Jan 17, shows more than 160 artifacts, including jade and pottery objects, that reveal the early stirrings of Chinese civilization.

9 am-5 pm, closed on Mondays. 16 East Chang'an Avenue, Dongcheng district, Beijing. 010-6511-6400.

A night of violins

Violinist Lyu Siqing will give a recital featuring music works by Beethoven, marking the German composer's 250th anniversary this year. Programs will include Violin Sonata No 3 in E-flat major, Violin Sonata No 5 in F major and Violin Sonata No 7 in C minor. One of the most prominent and influential Chinese violinists today, Lyu, born and raised in Qingdao, Shandong province, was the first Asian violinist to win the first prize at the prestigious Paganini International Violin Competition in Italy in 1987.

7:30 pm, Nov 13. National Center for the Performing Arts. No 2 West Chang'an Avenue, Xicheng district, Beijing. 010-6655-0000.

Making overtures

China's NCPA Orchestra will perform, under the baton of conductor Lyu Jia, German composer Ludwig van Beethoven's musical works, including the overture to Die Geschopfe des Prometheus, the overture to Fidelio, and Incidental Music to Goethe's Egmont. Soprano Yuanming will join in the performances.

7:30 pm, Nov 12 and 14. National Center for the Performing Arts. No 2 West Chang'an Avenue, Xicheng district, Beijing.010-6655-0000.

A legendary dance

Based on the enduring legend of Hua Mulan, Chinese dance drama, Mulan, will be staged by Ningbo Song and Dance Theater. Dancers, including Hao Ruoqi, Xia Tian and Wu Wei, will play leading roles in the dance drama. Besides following the story of Hua Mulan, a brave young woman who disguises herself as a man and fights on the battlefield with honor, the dance drama also portrays love and romance with the beauty of traditional Chinese dance.

7:30 pm, Nov 13 and 14. National Center for the Performing Arts. No 2 West Chang'an Avenue, Xicheng district, Beijing. 010-6655-0000.

The street life

Self-trained artist Liu Guoyi once made a living by painting portraits on the streets of Beijing. Not only did he hone his skills, but also learned to observe people from different walks of life and feel social transformations. The experiences of being a street artist enriched Liu's mind and heart, as he developed a unique visual vocabulary. He creates a fantasy world in which he utilizes vivid colors to express urban dwellers' happiness, confusions, illusions and psychological battles. Liu's one-man exhibition, Fantasy and Superstring, now on at the Today Art Museum and running through Nov 13, shows an insight into the richness and complexity of people's emotions.

10 am-6 pm, closed on Mondays. 32 Baiziwan Road, Chaoyang district, Beijing. 010-5876-0600.