The third National Beijing Opera Festival closed Sunday in Nanjing, the capital of the east China's Jiangsu Province.

The third National Beijing Opera Festival closed Sunday in Nanjing, the capital of the east China's Jiangsu Province.

Gold medals were awarded to five operas performed by Beijing Opera troupes from Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Nanjing and the China Beijing Opera Theater.

During the 15-day festival, 24 operas with traditional and contemporary themes were staged by artists from around the country.

Jointly sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and the city government of Nanjing, the festival aims to invigorate Beijing Opera, a treasure of the Chinese nation and a jewel in the world art treasury.

(Xinhua News Agency December 16, 2001)