The Chou is basically the clown. Language is often archaic Chinese and the screeching music is searing to western ears, but the costumes and make-up are magnificent. The action that really catches the western eye is a swift battle sequence-the female warriors involved are trained acrobats who leap, twirl, twist and somersault into attack. Catching at least one Beijing opera is almost mandatory for visitors to the capital, and that includes the Chinese. Special performances of Beijing opera are put on for foreigners nightly at 7.30pm in the Liyuan Theatre, which is part of the Qianmen Hotel.
Performances last one hour and a half with sporadic translations flashed on an electronic signboard.
The Poacher's Inn deserves top billing. Currently it's only open on Friday and Saturday nights from 9pm to 4am. There is live music on Saturday night starting from 9.30pm. NASA Disco Advertises 'advanced designed style appealing to radicals'. It can accommodate 1500 dancers and is open from 8pm until 2am.