ChineseoperaisapopularformofdramainChina.Ingeneral,itdatesbacktotheTangDynastywithEmperorXuanzong,whofoundedthe“PearGarden”.NowChineseoperaiswarmlywelcomedbymanyforeignpeople.Whatappealsforeignersmostmightbethedistinctivestyleoffacialmake-up,whichisoneofthehighlightsandrequiresdistinctivetechniquesofpainting.Exaggerateddesignsarepaintedoneachperformer''''''''sfacetosymbolizeacharacter''''''''spersonality,andfate.Audienceswhoarefamiliarwithoperacanknowthestorybyobservingthefacialpaintingaswellasthecostumes.Generally,aredfacerepresentsloyaltyandbravery;ablackface,rough;yellowandwhitefaces,duplicity;andgoldenandsilverfaces,mystery.ForChinese,especiallyolderfolks,tolistentooperaisarealpleasure.