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\tChinese opera falls into more than 300 forms of traditional operas, of which Peking Opera<\/strong>\uff08\u4eac\u5267\uff0cJ\u012bngjù\uff09<\/span>is the most popular. Peking Opera evolved from <\/span>Kunqu Opera<\/strong>\uff08\u6606\u66f2\uff0cK\u016bnq\u01d4\uff09<\/span>, an even more ancient art of drama listed by UNESCO in 2001 among the first group of works representing humankind through oral history. Other popular local operas include <\/span>Yueju<\/strong>\uff08\u8d8a\u5267\uff0cYuèjù\uff09<\/span>(<\/span>Shaoxing Opera<\/strong>\uff08\u7ecd\u5267\uff0cShàojù\uff09<\/span>from Zhejiang), <\/span>Huangmeixi<\/strong>\uff08\u9ec4\u6885\u620f\uff0cHuángméixì\uff09<\/span>(from Anhui), <\/span>Chuanju<\/strong>\uff08\u5ddd\u5267\uff0cChu\u0101njù\uff09<\/span>(Sichuan Opera), <\/span>Yuju<\/strong>\uff08\u8c6b\u5267\uff0cYùjù\uff09<\/span>(Henan Opera), and <\/span>Yueju<\/strong>\uff08\u7ca4\u5267\uff0cYuèjù \uff09<\/span> <\/strong>(Guangdong Opera). Peking Opera developed in early 19th-century Beijing and presents singing, music, chanting, dancing and martial arts all in one stage performance. The dramatic masks and costumes of Peking Opera are world-renowned. Famous Peking Opera actors and actresses over the years included <\/span>Mei Lanfang<\/strong>\uff08\u6885\u5170\u82b3\uff0cMéi Lánf\u0101ng\uff09<\/span>, <\/span>Cheng Yanqiu<\/strong>\uff08\u7a0b\u781a\u79cb\uff0cChéng Yànqi\u016b\uff09<\/span>, <\/span>Ma Lianliang<\/strong>\uff08\u9a6c\u8fde\u826f\uff0cM\u01ce Liánliáng\uff09<\/span>, <\/span>Zhou Xinfang<\/strong>\uff08\u5468\u4fe1\u82b3\uff0cZh\u014du Xìnf\u0101ng\uff09<\/span>and <\/span>Du Jinfang<\/strong>\uff08\u675c\u8fd1\u82b3\uff0cDù Jìnf\u0101ng\uff09<\/span>. Since the 1990s, the emergence of highly talented young performers has helped demonstrate the continued importance of Peking Opera in Chinese culture. In recent years, the Peking Opera Theatre of China has experimented with incorporating western symphonic music in its productions.<\/span><\/p>\n