Beijing International Studies University (BISU), in collaboration with the National Academy of Chinese Theater Arts (NACTA), hosted the "Peking Opera: A Cultural Spectacle" event on May 27, bringing traditional opera into the campus.

The event featured three sections: a special lecture, classic performances, and interactive experiences.

NACTA delegation performs Peking Opera at BISU.

Professor Jiao Jingge, director of the Graduate Department at the NACTA, delivered a lecture titled "The Grandeur of Peking Opera".

The lecture covered the origins and development of Peking Opera, detailing the characteristics and performance knowledge of the four main roles: sheng (male roles in traditional Chinese opera), dan (female characters), jing (painted-face characters), and chou (clown).

Using excerpts from classic plays, Jiao also explained essential performance elements such as singing, recitation, and physical movements, helping both domestic and international students gain a holistic understanding of Peking Opera.

The lecture was interspersed with classic opera performances. Students from the NACTA and BISU's Peking Opera troupe performed selected excerpts. The joint performances received enthusiastic applause from the audience.

BISU students learn the basic stage steps and gestures from a NACTA performer.

During the interactive session, students and faculty from BISU were guided by their NACTA counterparts to explore opera costumes, makeup, and stylized movements up close, with detailed explanations based on different roles types. Under the performers' instruction, they practiced basic stage steps and gestures, gaining a firsthand appreciation for the beauty of Peking Opera's formalized art.

This event exemplified the deepening cultural collaboration between the two universities and the advancement of aesthetic education. BISU will keep building diverse cultural exchange platforms, helping students enhance their cultural confidence through direct engagement with traditional culture, while also supporting the international promotion of outstanding Chinese cultural heritage.