This is the princess's mother, who is OBSESSED with marrying off her daughter, the Emperor's sister.
Martial arts/fight scene between a jealous brother and the groom-to-be
Beijing green tea. Lini is pouring.
I love this picture because it shows the pit as well as what's going on onstage. In this scene, the jealous Emperor is leading his army to find his sister and brother-in-law. The couple know of the Emperor's plot to kill the army general (bro in law), so they have fled during the night.
Some of our Iowa friends in front of the stage before the Beijing opera began.
Lini and I in the VIP seats :) Our tea was delicious--it's the typical Beijing tea, which means you cover the cup which a matching lid while you drink it so that you don't accidentally drink the leaves.

Literally. Five minutes of "WOoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo"
"shhhiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii" . interesting.






Demonstrating how to drink that tea. :)