0:00:10 > 0:00:16Please note: we are currently unable to insert accents, etc, in the following subtitles.
0:00:20 > 0:00:23In Beijing nightlife is booming.
0:00:23 > 0:00:28There's everything from disco dancing to traditional opera.
0:00:28 > 0:00:32In this programme, buying tickets for a show,
0:00:32 > 0:00:35and behind the scenes with young performers in training.
0:00:35 > 0:00:40Plus Chinese New Year, the way it's celebrated on television
0:00:40 > 0:00:43and out on the streets.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48Guo nian hao!
0:00:50 > 0:00:52Happy New Year!
0:00:55 > 0:01:00The Chinese celebrate their New Year, or Spring Festival, according to the lunar calendar.
0:01:00 > 0:01:05It falls at the end of January or in early February.
0:01:05 > 0:01:11It's the time when families, however scattered, get together to enjoy themselves.
0:01:11 > 0:01:15ALL: Guo nian hao!
0:01:15 > 0:01:18Guo nian hao!
0:01:33 > 0:01:38The New Year holiday lasts a week or more and it's more commercialised than it's ever been.
0:01:38 > 0:01:44With every opportunity for well-off Beijingers to spend and be entertained.
0:01:49 > 0:01:52Children are indulged more than at any other time.
0:01:52 > 0:01:54SHE SHOUTS
0:01:54 > 0:01:57LAUGHTER
0:02:06 > 0:02:10New Year rituals take many forms.
0:02:10 > 0:02:15In Imperial times, the Ming and Qing emperors would come to Ditan Park
0:02:15 > 0:02:20to pray at the Altar of the Earth for a good harvest.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23The people expected their emperor to have divine powers.
0:02:23 > 0:02:29If he couldn't provide for them, his credibility as a ruler would be in grave doubt.
0:02:39 > 0:02:46Nowadays, every family has its special prayers and wishes for the year to come.
0:03:05 > 0:03:09When it comes to entertainment, Chinese TV is now a major player.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12APPLAUSE
0:03:12 > 0:03:16On occasions like New Year, there are lavish spectaculars
0:03:16 > 0:03:19with no expense spared.
0:03:19 > 0:03:23It's all filled with stuff with a strong national flavour.
0:03:37 > 0:03:41There are massive audiences for soap opera -
0:03:41 > 0:03:45the most daring addition to the TV diet,
0:03:45 > 0:03:48and a mirror of fast-changing social attitudes.
0:03:53 > 0:03:57In summer, sport on TV draws huge crowds onto the streets,
0:03:57 > 0:03:59especially when it's the World Cup.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02The Chinese have become football fanatics.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10Above all, people like to get out and socialise.
0:04:10 > 0:04:14New bars, restaurants and clubs open up weekly.
0:04:19 > 0:04:25With a fast growing, trendsetting middle class, the appetite for nightlife seems insatiable.
0:04:25 > 0:04:29For many that includes window-shopping.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34I like...
0:05:02 > 0:05:06KTV - Karaoke TV - has swept China.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09It's a big favourite with all ages.
0:05:09 > 0:05:15But the truly cool choose the latest, stylish clubs where the aim is to see and be seen...
0:05:15 > 0:05:18mixing with the right crowd.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21Tickets are expensive by Chinese standards.
0:05:21 > 0:05:2350 yuan per person.
0:05:25 > 0:05:29One ticket.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32Ticket.
0:05:32 > 0:05:36How much is a ticket?
0:05:39 > 0:05:42Ni hao. Qing wen duo shao qian yi zhang piao?
0:05:42 > 0:05:43Wushi kuai yi zhang.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46Qing gei wo yi zhang.
0:05:48 > 0:05:5150 yuan.
0:05:51 > 0:05:53Xiexie.
0:05:53 > 0:05:55Ni hao, liang wei.
0:05:55 > 0:05:57Ni hao. Qing wen duo shao qian yi zhang piao?
0:05:57 > 0:06:00- Wu shi kuai qian yi zhang. - Wo yao liang zhang.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03Yi gong yi bai kuai qian.
0:06:03 > 0:06:05If you want two tickets, ask for...
0:06:09 > 0:06:12I want two.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17Xiaojie, qing wen duo shao qian yi zhang piao?
0:06:17 > 0:06:21- Wushi kuai qian yi zhang. - Hao, yao liang zhang. - Yigong yi bai kuai qian.
0:06:21 > 0:06:25DANCE MUSIC PLAYS
0:06:31 > 0:06:36No visit to China's capital is complete without a night at the Beijing Opera.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43It's usually fine to get tickets on the night.
0:06:45 > 0:06:49Tonight - literally today evening.
0:06:52 > 0:06:54Tickets for tonight.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58Ni hao.
0:06:58 > 0:07:00Wo mai liang zhang jintian wanshang de piao.
0:07:00 > 0:07:02Qianbiande, houbiande?
0:07:02 > 0:07:04They decide on front stalls.
0:07:06 > 0:07:08In the front.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11- Qianbiande duo shao qian? - Yi bai kuai.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13Hao, wo mai liang zhang.
0:07:13 > 0:07:15Yigong er bai kuai.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20Next they ask, "What time does it start?"
0:07:22 > 0:07:25Gei nin.
0:07:25 > 0:07:27Shenme shihou kaishi?
0:07:27 > 0:07:28Qi dian ban.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30- Xiexie.- Bu keqi.
0:07:32 > 0:07:357.30.
0:07:35 > 0:07:40Traditional Chinese opera has always been an entertainment for the masses.
0:07:42 > 0:07:48The disasters and intrigues surrounding scholars and emperors are favourite themes.
0:07:48 > 0:07:50People grow up with the stories.
0:07:50 > 0:07:52MUSIC PLAYS
0:07:52 > 0:07:55SINGING
0:08:00 > 0:08:06Tonight it's students from Beijing's prestigious opera school performing for its 50th anniversary.
0:08:07 > 0:08:11SINGING
0:08:13 > 0:08:16For many of these youngsters, like this 12-year-old girl,
0:08:16 > 0:08:21getting to perform at Beijing's top theatre is a dream come true.
0:08:38 > 0:08:42Young people come from all over China to study here.
0:08:42 > 0:08:48There's tough competition for places. Once they are in, it's six years of hard training.
0:08:53 > 0:08:57HE SINGS NOTES
0:09:10 > 0:09:16Many of the works performed call for mime, acrobatics and fighting routines.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43Students have to be versatile enough
0:09:43 > 0:09:47to tackle different styles of opera.
0:09:48 > 0:09:53Kunqu is a courtly forerunner of Beijing opera.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56It's now being revived by the Beijing school.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04Grace and poise are hard-earned.
0:10:16 > 0:10:20SINGING
0:10:26 > 0:10:31Deadlines are close for the Chang'An theatre performances.
0:10:31 > 0:10:35Tonight it's the final dress rehearsals.
0:10:35 > 0:10:40There are clearly defined roles in Beijing Opera.
0:10:40 > 0:10:44Sheng are the leading male roles.
0:10:44 > 0:10:46Laosheng is an old man.
0:10:57 > 0:11:02The so-called painted face roles are made up to look as if they're wearing a mask.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05They are statesmen, warriors and heroes.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07CYMBALS CRASH
0:11:18 > 0:11:23One of the liveliest and most popular opera characters is the Monkey King.
0:11:37 > 0:11:44The Dan or female roles are often the main focus of interest in the story.
0:12:09 > 0:12:14With so many Western influences on the contemporary cultural scene,
0:12:14 > 0:12:17can Beijing Opera really survive?
0:12:17 > 0:12:20The head of the school takes a long view.
0:12:45 > 0:12:50When the Chinese made their bid to host the Olympic Games,
0:12:50 > 0:12:55they did so in the confidence that their culture would rise to the occasion.
0:12:55 > 0:12:57LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE
0:12:57 > 0:13:01When the bid was successful,
0:13:01 > 0:13:04the majority were overjoyed.
0:13:10 > 0:13:15These top gymnasts are students at Beijing's Sports University.
0:13:16 > 0:13:20They've represented China in the Asian and Olympic Games.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22Now their sights are set on
0:13:22 > 0:13:25performing with honour in their own country.
0:13:51 > 0:13:54LOUD DRUMMING
0:13:57 > 0:14:02I think the most important thing is that we know that we are accepted by the world!
0:14:02 > 0:14:05The world accepts us, you know?
0:14:05 > 0:14:07I think that's the most important thing.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:14:24 > 0:14:27E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk