Photos show the ancient art of Peking opera works hard to keep flourishing in the digital age

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A Peking Opera actress applies makeup backstage before a show in Beijing, China, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
A Peking Opera actress applies makeup backstage before a show in Beijing, China, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
Peking Opera actress Zhang Wanting performs during a show at Jixiang Theatre in Beijing, China, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
Peking Opera actress Zhang Wanting performs during a show at Jixiang Theatre in Beijing, China, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
Peking Opera actress Zhang Wanting practices balancing on a chair handle onstage before a performance at Jixiang Theatre in Beijing, China, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
Peking Opera actress Zhang Wanting practices balancing on a chair handle onstage before a performance at Jixiang Theatre in Beijing, China, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
A Peking Opera actress applies makeup backstage before a show in Beijing, China, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
A Peking Opera actress applies makeup backstage before a show in Beijing, China, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
A drummer plays a traditional drum during a rehearsal for a Peking Opera show in Beijing, China, Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
A drummer plays a traditional drum during a rehearsal for a Peking Opera show in Beijing, China, Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
Peking Opera actress Zhang Wanting gets help putting on a costume backstage before a show in Beijing, China, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
Peking Opera actress Zhang Wanting gets help putting on a costume backstage before a show in Beijing, China, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
Peking Opera actors rehearse a newly written play at the Jingju Theatre Company in Beijing, China, Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
Peking Opera actors rehearse a newly written play at the Jingju Theatre Company in Beijing, China, Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
Peking Opera actress Zhang Wanting performs during a show at Jixiang Theatre in Beijing, China, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
Peking Opera actress Zhang Wanting performs during a show at Jixiang Theatre in Beijing, China, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
Peking Opera actors perform during a show at Jixiang Theatre in Beijing, China, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
Peking Opera actors perform during a show at Jixiang Theatre in Beijing, China, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
Audience members watch and applaud during a Peking Opera show at Jixiang Theatre in Beijing, China, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
Audience members watch and applaud during a Peking Opera show at Jixiang Theatre in Beijing, China, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
Peking Opera actress Zhang Wanting performs during a show at Jixiang Theatre in Beijing, China, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
Peking Opera actress Zhang Wanting performs during a show at Jixiang Theatre in Beijing, China, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
A makeup artist helps Peking Opera actress Zhang Wanting paint her face backstage before a performance at Jixiang Theatre in Beijing, China, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
A makeup artist helps Peking Opera actress Zhang Wanting paint her face backstage before a performance at Jixiang Theatre in Beijing, China, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
A Peking Opera actress applies makeup backstage before a show in Beijing, China, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
A Peking Opera actress applies makeup backstage before a show in Beijing, China, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
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9:06 PM on Wednesday, December 31, 2025

By MAHESH KUMAR A.

In a breakneck digital era, the ancient art of Peking opera works hard to keep flourishing.

This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

This content is used here with permission. To view the original visit: https://apnews.com/article/peking-opera-chinese-culture-dance-ea318e2dcc774d370800d81de02b208c
 

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