What's on

Stage

New Kunqu opera

The Kunqu opera form began 500 years ago and is listed by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Five years ago, the prominent writer and Kunqu promoter Bai Xianyong made Peony Pavilion (Youth Version) a great success, touring various parts of the mainland, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau, as well as the United States and Britain.

Following its success, Bai has put together a new production, The Jade Hairpin, for Kunqu lovers. Based on a work by the Ming dynasty playwright Gao Lian (1527-1609), The Jade Hairpin unfolds a love story between Pan Bizheng, a young scholar, and Chen Miaochang, a Taoist nun.

Led by Yu Jiulin and Sheng Fengying, Suzhou Kunqu Theater will stage The Jade Hairpin as the closing opera of Beijing International Opera and Dance Season.

7 pm, Dec 15 and 16. 80-880 yuan. Peking University Hall, inside Peking University, Haidian district. 6275-1278

北大百年讲堂，北京大学内

Versatile pianist

French pianist Hlne Grimaud plays both classical and contemporary works. Grimaud infuses great passion into her performance, adding jazz elements to the classical pieces.

She has released two albums: Rakhmaninov's Piano Sonata No 2 and Beethoven's Sonata Storm.

The versatile musician is also an avid environmentalist and has published two autobiographies, Wild Harmonies and Special Lessons.

7:30 pm, Dec 9. 120-680 yuan. National Center for the Performing Arts, west of Tian'anmen Square. 6655-0000

国家大剧院, 天安门广场西

Mongolian dance

Mongolian Sound brings alive the vast grasslands with its melodious tunes, joyous dances and colorful costumes.

7:30 pm, Dec 14. 80-880 yuan. Poly Theater, Dongsi Shitiao, Chaoyang district. 400-818-3333

保利剧院，朝阳区东四十条

Exhibitions

Poetry and photography

Art Talents Pop Up! Poemography Exp is a cross-region youth program for high school students in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, fusing poetry and photography.

Integrating the arts of view and language, this interactive program encourages teenagers to observe, feel and express, and to create photographic and poetic art pieces on the theme of "architecture".

10 am-6 pm, December 9-13. Free. The Orange, The Village at Sanlitun, Courtyard 19, Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang district.

朝阳区三里屯路19号院三里屯Village

Young calligrapher

The debut solo exhibition of Qin Guoren, a young calligraphic artist from Inner Mongolia, shows his unique writing style, characterized by his forceful and bold brushwork in kaishu, or the Regular Script.

The 42 year old has been studying Chinese calligraphy for more than 25 years under such veteran artists as Yang Lu'an, Ouyang Zhongshi, and Fan Zeng.

Qin draws from calligraphic classics such as bamboo texts, rock rubbings, and Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) Buddhist sutras.

9 am-5 pm, until Dec 11. National Art Museum of China, 1 Wusi Dajie, Dongcheng District. 6401-7076

中国美术馆, 东城区五四大街1号