Ping Opera 评剧

Pingju dates from the end of Qing and the beginning of the Republican Era. It originated from a form of folk opera in Hebei, known as lianhualao and later absorbed singing and acting techniques from Hebei Clapper Opera, Beijing Opera, Luanzhou Shadow Plays and Leting Dagu, a kind of verse narrative sung to the accompaniment of a small drum and other instruments. Pingju is popular in Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei and Northeast China. Its tunes, dialogue and acting are deeply rooted from people's life so that it is lively and easy to understand.