Stage

Leading Chinese actors will perform a poetry reading show at the Forbidden City Concert Hall. Entitled Love Brings Us Together, they will recite both Chinese and foreign poems and essays portraying the love between partners, family members, friends and strangers. Fang Ming, the famous veteran radio anchor, will host the show and the performers include Ding Jianhua, Wang Jianxin, Xu Huaishan, Qiao Zhen, Wu Jing'an, Yao Xijuan, Xiao Xiong, Ju Xue, Zhang Kaili and Yan Xiaopin.

It will also feature a chamber orchestra and video show.

7:30 pm, Jan 2

Inside the Zhongshan Park

6559-8285

The Monkey King is one of the best-known Chinese legendary figures in the world. Based on Journey to the West, one of the four great classical novels of Chinese literature, the adventures of the monkey who accompanies the monk Xuanzang's pilgrimage to India have been adapted into various theatrical productions, movies and TV programs.

A brand-new stage adaptation of the legends, combining Chinese kungfu, dance, acrobatics and drama, will be on.

The six-act "circus dance" show is directed by Chen Weiya, who assisted director Zhang Yimou at the Olympics Opening Ceremony. Chinese composer Xu Peidong scores the music while renowned choreographer Feng Shuangbai creates the dance numbers. Director Chen takes the pick of the episodes in the pilgrimage and put them into six breathtaking Acts: Birth of Monkey, Fight In Heaven, The White Skeleton Demon, The Spider Woman, Volcano City and Paradise.

7:30 pm, Jan 14-23

Beizhan Theater, 135 Xizhimenwai Dajie, Xicheng district

5165-8609, 5165-8606

The Peony Pavilion, the classic Kunqu Opera, is on at the Imperial Granary, a perfect venue. The Imperial Granary was rebuilt in the Ming Dynasty 600 years ago, exactly the time the Kunqu Opera was written.

6409-6477/6499

22 Dongsi Shitiao, Dongcheng district

380-1,980 yuan, including Royal Peking Roast Duck Buffet

The Chinese Acrobatics Group has toured more than 80 countries and helped foster friendships between other nations. Its performance includes traditional acrobatics, a circus show, magic, old Beijing folk plays and more. The show blends music, dance, local opera and martial arts.

7:30 pm, daily

Tiandi Theater, Dongsi Shitiao, Chaoyang district

6416-9893

Concert

The Vienna Orchestra celebrates the New Year in Beijing. Led by Hans Peter Manser, its program includes Johann Strauss's The Emperor Waltz and Blue Danube, Richard Strauss's Der Rosenkavalier Waltz, as well as Chinese folk music scores Jasmine Flower and Joyous News from Beijing Spreads to the Border.

7:30 pm, Dec 27

Forbidden City Concert Hall in Zhongshan Park, Northwest of Tian'anmen Square

6559-8285

Exhibitions

In Yang Chengwen's paintings, the viewer can enjoy idealistic colors and compositions. Against the background of a starry night a girl rides on the back of a small white horse, using a bunch of flowers as a parachute; a child flies through a rainbow; on a sea of clouds floats a small boat carrying bunches of flowers.

With delicate brush-lines and warm tones, Yang recalls her childhood memories with dreamlike imagery.

10 am-5 pm, until Dec 28

Art Line Gallery, 9 Huizhong Lu, Asian Games Village, Chaoyang district

6496-6933

A group exhibition featuring 100 heavy-colored ink paintings and lithographs from Yunnan, ends tomorrow.

Created by 20 veteran artists, including Ding Shaoguang, Jiang Tiefeng, Chen Yongle, and Chen Chongping, these works reveal decades-long efforts to depict the rich and brilliant cultures of ethnic minorities in Yunnan, combining traditional gongbi (fine-brushed ink painting) skills and Western art ideas.

Yunnan province has 25 ethnic minority groups who have lived together harmoniously since ancient times, according to curator Jin Yunsong.

9 am-5 pm, until Dec 27

Beijing World Art Museum, China Millennium Monument, A9 Fuxinglu, Haidian district

6851-3322

(China Daily December 29, 2008)