A Beijing Opera troupe from Tianjin, China, will put on two shows early this week in Santiago to celebrate 40 years of diplomatic relations between China and Chile.

The troupe has already toured three Chilean cities since Dec. 11, meeting with much success.

"Surprising, marvelous, fascinating were the words the audience used to describe the Beijing Opera show," El Rancaguino, a local newspaper based in Rancagua in southern Chile, said.

The show is scheduled to start tonight in the Gabriela Mistral Cultural Center in central Santiago, and continue Tuesday in the Municipal Theater in Las Condes in the east of the city. The troupe has met with much success at Valparaiso, Talca and San Clemente before coming to Santiago.

The same troupe toured Chile in March 2008, presenting four works out of its 100-piece repertoire: "Autumn River," "Stealing Immortal Herbs," "The Crossroads" and "Lady Zhaojun Bidding Farewell over the Frontier."

The performances are assisted by the Chinese Embassy in Santiago, the Chilean Ministry of Culture, and the Chilean National Council of Culture and the Arts.

(Xinhua News Agency December 23, 2010)