Regarded as the true home of Peking Opera (jingju), the Li Yuan Theatre provides an hour’s worth of excerpts for the uninitiated. Peking Opera began in 1790 when opera troupes from Anhui province gave a performance at the Qing court and famous opera singers were akin to rock stars in the nineteenth-century. This is a good taster menu to whet your appetite before committing to the usual 20-hour affair. The performers are outstanding and you can even buy color programs in English. Book a seat on the second floor so you can drink tea and snack at Qing-style tables during the performance. If you get there early then you can watch the singers put on the elaborate make-up that is just as much as part of Peking Opera as the music.