Peking opera is China's traditional theater art form that combines music, singing, acting, dancing, and acrobatics. It became popular in the 19th century. Students undergo rigorous training from a young age, learning skills like combat. There are four main types of roles - sheng (male), dan (female), jing (painted face male), and chou (clown). Performances utilize costumes, props, and symbolic conventions of movement to convey meaning to audiences seated to the south of the square stage.