Performances

Peking opera

Peking Opera of the popular Chinese fairytale White Snake is staged at the National Center for the Performing Arts. The current version combines Peking Opera, dance, acrobatics, symphonic music and multi-media installations.

Veteran playwright Zou Jingzhi, who is famous for writing scripts for TV series and dramas, rewrites the legend of the fairy Bai Suzhen.

7:30 pm. National Center for the Performing Arts, West of Tian'anmen Square. 6655-0000

Tune to tenors

Marcello Giordani, Salvatore Licitra and Ramon Vargas will stage another performance at the National Center for the Performing Arts, following their success at the Great Hall of the People yesterday.

7:30 pm. The National Center for the Performing Arts, 2 Xichang'an Jie, Xicheng District. 6655-0000

The sopranos

Top opera singers, America's outstanding soprano Renee Fleming, German tenor Jonas Kaufmann, South Korean soprano Sumi Jo will light up the stage with their beautiful arias.

7:30 pm. Great Hall of the People, west of Tian'anmen Square

6406-8888, 400-818-3333

Exhibitions

Precious and priceless

The Beijing Arts and Crafts Museum has a special exhibition of its most precious ivory carvings, gold and silver sculptures, carved lacquerware, ceramic works and jade carvings.

9 am - 5 pm. Beijing Arts and Crafts Museum, 4th floor of Gongmei Building, 200 Wangfujing Dajie, Dongcheng District. 6528-9326

Ink masters

Get a glimpse into the evolution of ancient Chinese ink painting techniques from the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties at an exhibit at the National Art Museum of China.

Highlights include exemplary works by Wumen Painting School artists, including Shen Zhou and Tang Yin from Jiangsu province.

9 am-5 pm. National Art Museum of China, 1 Wusi Dajie, Dongcheng District. 6401-7076

Sporting spirit

Using different media including photography, paintings, video art, sculpture and installation, the artists offer spectators and idea of the Olympic, athletic and sporting spirit. Participants include Josune Amunarriz, Jose Manuel Ballester and others.

10 am-5 pm. Iberia Center for Contemporary Art, 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District. 8457-2188

3000 years old

From Sanxingdui to Jinsha - Splendid Civilization of Ancient Shu Kindom, the cultural relics show displays bronze masks and utensils unearthed at the Sanxingdui site and Jinsha site in Sichuan province. Dated back to the Late Shang Dynasty (BC 1300-1046), these bronzewares excavated from the sacrificial pits illustrate the creativity of the ancestors of southwestern China. Permanent shows in the museum include ancient bronze art works and stone Buddha status of ancient times.

9:30 am-16:30 pm. Poly Art Museum, 1 Chaoyangmen Beijie, Dongcheng District. 6500-8117