An artist performs at the opening ceremony of the 5th China Qinqiang Opera Arts Festival in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Aug. 28, 2010. The opera festival consists of nearly 60 performances which are shown at many theatres in Xi'an from Aug. 22 to Sept. 6. Qinqiang is a local opera that thrives in northwest China's Gansu, Shaanxi, Qinghai, Ningxia and Xinjiang. It is known as the "First Emperor's Opera," indicating it was popular during the reign of Qinshihuang, the first emperor of a united China in the Qin Dynasty (221 BC- 207 BC). Photo: Xinhua