国内英语新闻:Senior Chinese leader calls for revitalization of Peking Opera

BEIJING, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- A senior leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Tuesday encouraged Peking opera troupes to produce more superior pieces to revitalize that art.

Li Changchun, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, made the remarks after watching the show "Man Jiang Hong", which told a story of Yue Fei, a hero who fought against invading troops in the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279).

The show kicked off a month-long demonstration season of over 40 masterpieces of Peking Opera.

Li Changchun (R), a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, shakes hands with Peking Opera artists after they stage a Peking Opera show at the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 7, 2010.

The over 200-year-old Peking Opera, which combines instrumental music, vocal performances, mime, dance and acrobatics, was recognized as an intangible cultural heritage last month by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The Chinese government established a special fund in 2005 to support key troupes around the country to develop new scripts and adapt classic stories.