Description: Beijing opera is widely regarded as one of the cultural treasures of China. Beijing and Tianjin are respected as the base cities of Beijing opera in the north while Shanghai is the base in the south. The form has been prevalent in both the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China on Taiwan, though it has faced modification and... ( +expand to view full text )

Description: Beijing opera is widely regarded as one of the cultural treasures of China. Beijing and Tianjin are respected as the base cities of Beijing opera in the north while Shanghai is the base in the south. The form has been prevalent in both the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China on Taiwan, though it has faced modification and manipulation in both places in line with the political goals of the Chinese Communist Party and the Kuomintang, respectively. The art form has also reached other countries, such as the United States and Japan.