Date: Feb 16, 2012 - Feb 24, 2012

Time 7:15pm

Tickets: 50-580 yuan (US$8-90)

Venue: Shanghai Grand Theater

Phone: 021-6386 8686

RENOWNED artists from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan will present five Peking Opera classics and new original theater at the annual Peking Opera Festival of the Shanghai Grand Theater.

The festival runs from February 16 to 24. It opens with a lavish performance of the epic "Sun Bin and Pang Juan." Based on a famous Warring States Period (477-221 BC) story, the opera tells of the rivalry between two military tacticians, Sun Bin and Pang Juan. It combines traditional vocals with modern elements from symphony, opera, musicals and dance drama.

The performances are joint productions by the Shanghai Peking Opera House and the prestigious Taipei Li-yuan Chinese Opera Theater.

Performances include the classic "Accusation from a Wronged Ghost," the romantic comedy "A Love Story in the Cabinet/Closet," the folktale "The Legend of White Snake" and the newly adapted wartime story "The Battle of Weinan."

Artists include Li Baochun, Wei Hai-ming, Wang Peiyu and Sun Zhengyang.