Beijingoperaisoneoftheoldestoperaartformsintheworld.SincetheTangDynasty,performersofBeijingoperawerereferredtoas"theatricalperformers".DuringtheQingDynasty,itbecamefashionableamongordinarypeople.Performanceswerewatchcdintearooms,restaurants,andevenonmakeshiftstages.Exaggerateddesignsarepaintedoncachperformer'sfacetosymbolizeacharacterspersonality,role,andfate.Thistechniquemayhaveoriginatedfromancientreligionsanddance.Audienceswhoarefamiliarwiththeoperacanknowthestorybyobservingthecharacters'facialpaintingsaswellastheircostumes.