Peking Opera artists staged flash mob performances at the National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Beijing to celebrate the Spring Festival, igniting a renewed passion for the ancient art among the younger generation.

This year marks the 16th consecutive year that the NCPA has staged opera performances during the Spring Festival, and the first time it chose to kick off the new year with Peking Opera flash mob performances, setting the stage for an exciting lineup of shows.
"I find this form very innovative. It successfully blends creativity and novelty," said Zhang Peilun, another audience member.
"The sound of the Jinghu (a bowed string instrument used in Peking Opera) , combined with the actors' full and melodious voices, ignited a passion in my blood and evoked a cultural awakening in me," said Jiao Xiangyu, a Peking Opera fan.
The flash mob shows were performed by Peking Opera artists from Beijing's Jingju Theater Company. Bate'er, an artist specializing in the female roles (dan) in Peking Opera and an inheritor of the Mei School, a leading performing style developed by Peking Opera master Mei Lanfang, said that the flash mob is an innovative approach to attract a wider young audience.
"This can be considered as an innovation in Peking Opera art. It serves as an excellent means to cultivate an appreciation for Peking Opera among more young people," he said.