"Carmen" will be staged in Poly Theater.

The world famous opera “Carmen” will be staged in Poly Theater, one of the most luxurious theaters in Beijing.

Carmen is a French opera. It has been one of the world's most performed operas and a staple of the operatic repertoire since the 1880s.

Enjoy the passionate collision of the classical legend and traditional European culture!

--by Cathryn, your shopping assistant in Beijing

Teahouses are an essential part of Chinese culture

Teahouses are an essential part of traditional Chinese tea culture and tea ceremonies.

Nowadays most teahouses in Beijing have become a wonderful entertainment place with shows by comedians, singers, musicians, acrobats, and opera performers.

Most westerners also enjoy sipping tea in a teahouse while getting a wide view of Chinese culture.

--by Cathryn, your tour guide in Beijing

New snack bar offering popular chuan'r

New snack bar offering popular chuan’r – Chinese for “meat on a stick”.

It’s not far from Beijing’s ancient Drum Tower.

Visitors are all very pleased with this little bar, and I say this place could give a few restaurants a lesson in service and style!

--by Cathryn, your tour guide in Beijing

Look at this lovely rhinoceros!

I like Chinese lacquerware very much, especially the auspicious deep red color and the traditional craftsmanship.

I found an incredibly lifelike rhinoceros! It is a classic “carved polychrome” lacquer work.

The carvings are superb. It took almost 6 months to finish this one!

--by Cathryn, your personal shopping assistant in Beijing

Pyrography is a traditional Chinese art.

The unique painting you seen here is Chinese pyrography.

Can you imagine how it’s made? Artists use an electric iron to burn pictures on a piece of wood, silk or paper. The tip of the iron is heated to 300 degrees Celsius!

This one shows the beautiful landscape of southwest China’s Sichuan province, it's so gorgeous.

--by Cathryn, your personal shopping assistant in Beijing

They are in fact made of ceramics!

I found this plate of nuts and grain in a local shop.

Look at these delicious walnuts, peanuts, beans and rice, don't you want to have a try?

Stop! They are just lifelike food made of ceramics, so amazing!

--by Cathryn, your tour guide in Beijing

The rattle-drum is very popular in China.

Chinese kids are all familiar with the rattle-drum, one of the oldest and most traditional toys in China.

It is a small double-sided drum with a handle and two wooden balls hanging from a string.

When rolled in your hands, the balls on both sides will beat the drum, sending out a rattling sound.

--by Cathryn, your tour guide in Beijing

This is a famous sculpture in 798 Art Zone

Beijing’s 798 Art Zone is now the epicenter of China's contemporary art world. It is often compared with New York's Greenwich Village or SoHo.

This place is famous for the decommissioned military factory buildings that now house wonderful art galleries.

Some public sculptures stand beside the pathways, this is the Chinese Marilyn Monroe waiting for you. She’s wearing an elegant cheongsam!

--by Cathryn, your personal shopping assistant in Beijing

"Inside painted"snuff bottles were used to hold powdered tobacco.

Artists use a slender bamboo stick dipped in colored ink to paint on the interior surface of the bottle. Symbols are derived from legends, history, religion, and so on.

It is also an object of beauty and a way to represent status.

--by Cathryn, your personal shopping assistant in Beijing

See this huge snow ball I made!

Heavenly snow covered Beijing on a couple of days ago, so children enjoyed another day of snowball fights and snowman-building.

Even teenagers and young adults were enjoying the snow.

I also like the snow very much, see this huge ball that I made yesterday!

--by Cathryn, your tour guide in Beijing