Next up on our whirlwind tour was the Chinese Opera. We returned to Qianmen by metro (so fast. Forget taking a taxi in Beijing during rush hour, which appeared to be most of the day!). The opera house at the Huguang Guild Hall was about a 30 minute walk from the metro. We did not buy tickets in advance, nor did we need to. It was an interesting experience – not one I’d repeat, but still one I’d recommend. For our Western ears, the tones were a little harsh. For me, it was very impressive, the sounds being produced by the singers were very different from anything I’d ever heard. The costumes are fantastic – so colorful.