An international participant tries on a Peking Opera costume. [Photo/Jinyun App]

More than 130 students and teachers from 15 countries stepped into the world of Peking Opera during a cultural exchange event held at Tianjin Binhu Theater on July 4.

The activity was part of Nankai University's 2026 Chinese Bridge Summer Camp, offering international youth an immersive introduction to one of China's most treasured performing arts.

Instead of simply watching a performance, participants became a part of it. Under the guidance of professional artists from the Tianjin Peking Opera Theater, they tried on elaborate costumes, learned traditional makeup techniques, practiced signature movements, and explored classic stage roles.

A German student transformed into the legendary beauty Yang Guifei, the concubine of an emperor in the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907), while a Brazilian participant portrayed a Chinese deity. A French student, inspired by the character Sun Wukong, or the Monkey King, who appears in the video game Black Myth: Wukong, eagerly learned the Monkey King's iconic gestures and said he now hopes to read the original Chinese classic Journey to the West.

The students also experimented with traditional instruments, rhythmic percussion and sleeve movements, learning how Peking Opera combines music, dance, martial arts, and storytelling.

Organizers said the goal was to turn overseas students from spectators into active participants, allowing them to experience Chinese culture firsthand. Through interactive learning, the program encouraged deeper understanding and sparked lasting interest in the traditions and spirit behind Peking Opera.

International visitors learn traditional instruments. [Photo/Jinyun App]