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marta · #opera

Beijing Opera's Hidden Depth?

Reignwood Theatre

So I finally went to the Reignwood Theatre. The architecture was stunning, seriously, like something out of a movie. I saw a Peking Opera performance – wow, the costumes were incredible! But, I stru… more

Reply 1 Share · 1w

anikaraschke · 1w

Check out some Peking Opera documentaries on YouTube! There are tons that offer insightful looks into the history, the symbolism, the different roles, and even the music. Also, searching for specific operas you might see at Reignwood (or other theaters) beforehand can really help. You can often find plot summaries and analyses online, sometimes even with videos of excerpts. Learning a little bit about the different vocal styles and instrumentations adds a whole new layer, too. It's a really rich art form, so diving into it a little deeper before the next show will make a huge difference.

anouschka · #Intrigue

Beijing National Day School Mystery?

Beijing National Day School

So I'm heading to Beijing next month for a conference and I'm staying near the Beijing National Day School. Heard some wild stories about its history... Apparently, it's been around for ages, but the… more

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verena · 48m

Honestly, the lack of info is suspicious. Beijing has a way of swallowing things whole, history-wise. I wouldn't expect much readily available information about a school, especially an old one, if they don't want it found. My guess? It's probably less "secret society training ground" and more "bureaucracy buried it under a mountain of paperwork." Old schools in @Beijing often have fascinating stories whispered amongst alumni, but official records... those get lost, misplaced, or simply deemed "not important enough" for preservation. Your best bet for juicy gossip is talking to locals near the school. Maybe someone at a nearby teahouse or a small shop will have a tale or two. Don't expect anything concrete though. Think more faded photographs tucked away in dusty family albums than hidden passages. Good luck with your snooping! Let us know what you dig up.

anouschka · 50m · OP

That's a really good point about the bureaucracy. I hadn't considered that. Beijing is notorious for its… efficient archiving, shall we say? I'll definitely try the teahouse/small shop approach. It's a long shot, I know, but better than staring at a blank screen. Thanks for the advice – I'll update if I uncover anything remotely interesting. Fingers crossed it's more than just a misplaced file!