Entertainment and Celebrations Real Chinese

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In Beijing nightlife is booming.

There's everything from disco dancing to traditional opera.

In this programme, buying tickets for a show,

and behind the scenes with young performers in training.

Plus Chinese New Year, the way it's celebrated on television

and out on the streets.

Guo nian hao!

Happy New Year!

The Chinese celebrate their New Year, or Spring Festival, according to the lunar calendar.

It falls at the end of January or in early February.

It's the time when families, however scattered, get together to enjoy themselves.

ALL: Guo nian hao!

Guo nian hao!

The New Year holiday lasts a week or more and it's more commercialised than it's ever been.

With every opportunity for well-off Beijingers to spend and be entertained.

Children are indulged more than at any other time.

SHE SHOUTS

LAUGHTER

New Year rituals take many forms.

In Imperial times, the Ming and Qing emperors would come to Ditan Park

to pray at the Altar of the Earth for a good harvest.

The people expected their emperor to have divine powers.

If he couldn't provide for them, his credibility as a ruler would be in grave doubt.

Nowadays, every family has its special prayers and wishes for the year to come.

When it comes to entertainment, Chinese TV is now a major player.

APPLAUSE

On occasions like New Year, there are lavish spectaculars

with no expense spared.

It's all filled with stuff with a strong national flavour.

There are massive audiences for soap opera -

the most daring addition to the TV diet,

and a mirror of fast-changing social attitudes.

In summer, sport on TV draws huge crowds onto the streets,

especially when it's the World Cup.

The Chinese have become football fanatics.

Above all, people like to get out and socialise.

New bars, restaurants and clubs open up weekly.

With a fast growing, trendsetting middle class, the appetite for nightlife seems insatiable.

For many that includes window-shopping.

I like...

KTV - Karaoke TV - has swept China.

It's a big favourite with all ages.

But the truly cool choose the latest, stylish clubs where the aim is to see and be seen...

mixing with the right crowd.

Tickets are expensive by Chinese standards.

50 yuan per person.

One ticket.

Ticket.

How much is a ticket?

Ni hao. Qing wen duo shao qian yi zhang piao?

Wushi kuai yi zhang.

Qing gei wo yi zhang.

50 yuan.

Xiexie.

Ni hao, liang wei.

Ni hao. Qing wen duo shao qian yi zhang piao?

-Wu shi kuai qian yi zhang.

-Wo yao liang zhang.

Yi gong yi bai kuai qian.

If you want two tickets, ask for...

I want two.

Xiaojie, qing wen duo shao qian yi zhang piao?

-Wushi kuai qian yi zhang.

-Hao, yao liang zhang.

-Yigong yi bai kuai qian.

DANCE MUSIC PLAYS

No visit to China's capital is complete without a night at the Beijing Opera.

It's usually fine to get tickets on the night.

Tonight - literally today evening.

Tickets for tonight.

Ni hao.

Wo mai liang zhang jintian wanshang de piao.

Qianbiande, houbiande?

They decide on front stalls.

In the front.

-Qianbiande duo shao qian?

-Yi bai kuai.

Hao, wo mai liang zhang.

Yigong er bai kuai.

Next they ask, "What time does it start?"

Gei nin.

Shenme shihou kaishi?

Qi dian ban.

-Xiexie.

-Bu keqi.

7.30.

Traditional Chinese opera has always been an entertainment for the masses.

The disasters and intrigues surrounding scholars and emperors are favourite themes.

People grow up with the stories.

MUSIC PLAYS

SINGING

Tonight it's students from Beijing's prestigious opera school performing for its 50th anniversary.

SINGING

For many of these youngsters, like this 12-year-old girl,

getting to perform at Beijing's top theatre is a dream come true.

Young people come from all over China to study here.

There's tough competition for places. Once they are in, it's six years of hard training.

HE SINGS NOTES

Many of the works performed call for mime, acrobatics and fighting routines.

Students have to be versatile enough

to tackle different styles of opera.

Kunqu is a courtly forerunner of Beijing opera.

It's now being revived by the Beijing school.

Grace and poise are hard-earned.

SINGING

Deadlines are close for the Chang'An theatre performances.

Tonight it's the final dress rehearsals.

There are clearly defined roles in Beijing Opera.

Sheng are the leading male roles.

Laosheng is an old man.

The so-called painted face roles are made up to look as if they're wearing a mask.

They are statesmen, warriors and heroes.

CYMBALS CRASH

One of the liveliest and most popular opera characters is the Monkey King.

The Dan or female roles are often the main focus of interest in the story.

With so many Western influences on the contemporary cultural scene,

can Beijing Opera really survive?

The head of the school takes a long view.

When the Chinese made their bid to host the Olympic Games,

they did so in the confidence that their culture would rise to the occasion.

LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE

When the bid was successful,

the majority were overjoyed.

These top gymnasts are students at Beijing's Sports University.

They've represented China in the Asian and Olympic Games.

Now their sights are set on

performing with honour in their own country.

LOUD DRUMMING

I think the most important thing is that we know that we are accepted by the world!

The world accepts us, you know?

I think that's the most important thing.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

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