Beijing Opera is a kind of Chinese opera which is widely regarded as one of the cultural treasures of China. With its fascinating and artistic accompanying music, singing and costumes, Beijing Opera is China's national opera. Full of Chinese cultural facts, the opera presents the audience with an encyclopedia(百科全书) of Chinese culture, as well as unfolding stories, beautiful paintings, nice costumes, graceful gestures and martial arts. Since Beijing Opera enjoys a higher reputation and is so popular among Chinese people, especially seniors.

The Beijing Opera band mainly consists of an orchestra and percussion(打击乐) band. The former frequently accompanies peaceful scenes while the latter provides the right atmosphere for battle scenes. The commonly used percussion instruments include castanets(响板), drums and bells.

Beijing Opera has a 200-year-long history. Its main melodies originated from Xipi and Erhuang in Anhui and Hubei respectively and, over time, absorbed music and arias from other operas and musical arts such as the historic Qinqiang as well as being very strongly influenced by Kunqu, the form that preceded it as court art. Techniques from many other local operas were incorporated into Beijing Opera.

It is believed that Beijing Opera gradually came into being after 1790 when the famous four Anhui opera troupes came to Beijing. Beijing Opera underwent fast development during the reign of Emperor Qianlong and the notorious Empress Dowager Cixi under the imperial patron, eventually becoming more accessible to the common people.

In ancient times, Beijing Opera was performed mostly on stage in the open air, teahouses or temple courtyards. Since the orchestra played loudly, the performers developed a piercing style of song that could be heard by everyone. Beijing Opera is a harmonious combination of the Grand Opera, ballet and acrobatics(杂技), consisting of dance, dialogue, monologues(独白), martial arts and mime(哑剧).

In 1828, some famous Hubei troupes came to Beijing. They often jointly performed in the stage with Anhui troupes. The combination gradually formed Beijing Opera's main melodies.

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Dear Chirs,

The West Chamber will be put on at Grand Theatre

Hope you will come!

Yours,

Li Jin

For many years the school system in Finland has been very successful. In the PISA survey, which compares reading, math and science knowledge of 15-year-olds around the world, Finland is not only the top European country but also competes with Asian giants like China Shanghai, Singapore and South Korea. But what makes the educational system in this small country so different from others in the western countries?

Until the 1960s, Finland's most students left school after six years. In the middle of the 1960s, the Finnish government saw the need to change and modernize their education system if they want to be internationally competitive. Lawmakers made a simple decision: a basic school for all the 7- to 16-year-olds. Compulsory (义务的) education begins at 7. The government makes it possible for all children to attend preschool as well.

Most of Finland's schools get their money from the government. The people who are in charge of the education system, from teachers to officials are trained teachers, not politicians like in other countries.

Teachers work with their pupils in school as much as possible. When teachers are not with the pupils, they spend a lot of time in schools working on the curriculum (课程) and new projects. Schools in Finland are small, at least for international standards. So teachers know every pupil in their school and try everything to succeed with their pupils. In contrast to other nations, Finland selects its teachers very carefully: only talented teachers go on to a university and receive a master's degree in education. Finland only takes the best to educate its youth.

All Finnish children, whether they come from the city or the country, whether from a rich or poor family, have the same chances in education. There are not so many differences between the wealthy and the poor, as in America or other Western European countries. Education experts say that there is very little difference between very good and the worst students. Two thirds of Finnish pupils move on to higher education, the highest rate in the European Union.