CRI听力：Pilot Projects to Teach Children Peking Opera

he Ministry of Education will start pilot projects in the new semester to teach students in primary and secondary schools how to perform Peking opera.

Schools in 10 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, including the capital Beijing, will add the Chinese traditional art form to its music curriculum.

Gong Hede is a Peking Opera critic. He says it is meaningful for students to learn the traditional art form.

"Peking opera covers national art, moral values, life wisdom and history. It is valuable, and students should start learning it when they are small children. They will benefit from it for life."

The country's education authorities have selected 15 classic Peking opera programs to be taught in schools.

Peking Opera is known as China's national opera. It began in the late 18th century.

It is a combination of various art forms, including music, dance, literature, face-painting and acrobatics.