An artist from Beijing's National Opera Theatre prepares backstage before a dress rehearsal in Taipei, capital of east China's Taiwan province,  June 15, 2009. Beijing opera combines music, art, literature along with colourful costumes and make-up into one performance on the stage. Since the Yuan Dynasty (1271 - 1368) Beijing opera has been encouraged by court officials and emperors in China to become a traditional art form. [Agencies]

A combination photograph shows artist Yang Shi from Beijing's National Opera Theatre before and after putting on traditional opera makeup at a dress rehearsal in Taipei, capital of east China's Taiwan province, June 15, 2009. [Agencies]