Beijing Vocational College of Opera and Arts
Beijing Vocational College of Opera and Arts is a full-time ordinary institution of higher education approved by the Beijing Municipal People's Government and registered with the Ministry of Education. It is the only public higher vocational college of art in Beijing. The predecessor of the college was the Beijing Art Training Opera School (private), founded in 1952. In 1953, it was taken over by the Beijing Municipal Government and renamed Beijing Opera School. Art predecessors such as Hao Shouchen, Ma Lianliang, Yuan Sheng, Tong Zhixian, and Sun Yumin once served as principals of the school. In December 2002, the college officially launched full-time higher vocational education. In 2006, the Beijing Municipal Institute of Arts was merged into the college, enriching the school's teaching and research capabilities. The college has repeatedly won titles such as "Capital Civilized Unit" and "Beijing Advanced Unit in Vocational Education"; in 2011, it was rated as a "Beijing Demonstrative Higher Vocational College" by the Beijing Municipal Commission of Education; in 2017, it was rated as an "Advanced Unit in the Ideological and Moral Construction of Minors in China" by the Central Spiritual Civilization Construction Steering Committee; in 2023, it was rated as a "Beijing Characteristic and High-Level Vocational College" by the Beijing Municipal Commission of Education; in 2022, the college's opera performance professional group was selected into the list of characteristic high-level backbone majors (groups) of Beijing vocational colleges. In May 2025, the college was awarded the title of "National Civilized Unit" by the Central Leading Group for Propaganda, Ideology and Cultural Work.
The college enrolls students nationwide and offers 9 majors with 24 professional directions, including Opera Performance, Opera Music, Dance Performance, International Standard Dance, Music Performance, Quyi (Chinese Folk Art) Performance, Drama and Film Performance, Stage Art Design and Production, and Piano Tuning. There are 380 faculty members, including 119 with senior professional titles; and 1,378 full-time students. Over the years, the college has always adhered to the fundamental task of fostering virtue through education, fully implemented the educational policies of the Party and the country, strived to run education that satisfies the people, and focused on cultivating new talents of the times who can shoulder the responsibility of national rejuvenation. It has scientifically established a "five-in-one" talent training model integrating "teaching, performance, creation and research, service, and inheritance", closely combining art vocational education with the development of social culture. It has achieved a series of outstanding achievements in the training of cultural and artistic talents in opera, quyi, music, dance, film and television, as well as in creative performances and teaching and research, cultivating more than 10,000 various artistic talents. It has produced many artists successively, such as Peking Opera artists Sun Yumin, Zhang Xuejin, Li Chongshan, Li Yufu, Yan Shouping, Ye Jinyuan, Yan Guixiang, Zhao Baoxiu, Tan Xiaozeng; Pingju Opera artist Gu Wenyue; Qu Opera artists Zhang Shaorong, Xu Di, Sun Ning; and Quyi masters Zhong Yujie, Li Weijian, among others. Among them, 23 graduates have won the "Plum Blossom Award", the highest award in Chinese drama performance art. The majors of Opera Performance (Costume, Makeup) and Opera Performance (Pingju) were awarded the National Vocational College Demonstration Majors for the Inheritance and Innovation of National Culture by the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Education, and the State Ethnic Affairs Commission. The dance drama "Sunset", "Training on Traditional Makeup and Costume Techniques of Chinese Opera", and "Training on Talents of Peking Opera Xun School Art" have successively obtained project funding from the National Art Fund.
In recent years, teachers and students of the college have won more than 500 awards and honors such as the "Peony Award", "Magnolia Award", "Lotus Award", and "Wenhua Award" in various important domestic and international competitions. They have participated in major national performances and international exchange activities such as the celebration event for the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the large-scale situational epic "The Great Journey" to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Winter Olympics, the opening ceremony of the 13th National Arts Festival, and the evening gala "Justice Will Prevail" to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Over the past 70 years, the college has made outstanding contributions to the inheritance and development of the excellent culture of the Chinese nation.
As a full-time public higher vocational college specializing in traditional Chinese opera and art, Beijing Vocational College of Opera and Art has established unique and prominent competitive advantages based on its profound cultural heritage, professional characteristics, and high-quality talent cultivation. Its core strengths are as follows:
1. Time-Honored Cultural Heritage and Professional Authority
With a long history rooted in the inheritance and development of traditional Chinese opera, the college is a key institution for the preservation and promotion of national intangible cultural heritage (ICH) in Beijing. It has obtained official recognition and support from cultural and educational authorities, undertaking important tasks such as the inheritance of classic opera genres (Peking Opera, Kunqu Opera, Hebei Bangzi, etc.) and the training of professional talents in traditional art. The college’s academic credentials are nationally recognized, and its graduates are highly sought after in the cultural and art industry for their solid professional foundation.
2. Distinctive Professional Layout Focused on Traditional and Emerging Art Fields
Centering on the core of "traditional opera + diversified art development", the college offers specialized programs covering multiple art categories:
Traditional opera majors: Peking Opera Performance, Kunqu Opera Performance, Opera Music Accompaniment (e.g., Huqin, percussion instruments), etc., with renowned artists and inheritors of ICH serving as mentors to pass on classic repertoires and performing skills.
Emerging and applied art majors: Dance Performance (traditional Chinese dance, contemporary dance), Music Performance (vocal music, instrumental music), Art Design (stage art design, cultural and creative design), Broadcasting and Hosting (art program hosting), etc., which closely link traditional art with modern market needs and expand students’ career development paths.
3. First-Class Teaching Resources and Mentorship by Famous Artists
The college boasts a high-level faculty team combining academic expertise and stage experience:
A large number of "dual-qualified teachers" who are not only experienced educators but also renowned performers, composers, or directors in the opera and art industry. Many are inheritors of national or municipal ICH, ensuring the authenticity and professionalism of skill inheritance.
Regularly inviting top artists, directors, and industry experts from national and municipal art troupes (e.g., National Peking Opera Company, Beijing Peking Opera Theatre) to give lectures, conduct master classes, and guide student rehearsals, providing students with direct access to the highest level of artistic guidance.
4. High-Standard Practical Training Facilities and Abundant Performance Opportunities
To support skill training and artistic practice, the college has built a comprehensive practical teaching system:
On-campus facilities: Professional theaters, rehearsal halls (equipped with standard stage lighting and sound systems), music practice rooms, costume and makeup workshops, stage art design studios, etc., simulating real performance scenarios for daily training and rehearsal.
Off-campus practice platforms: Long-term cooperative relationships with national and local art troupes, cultural venues, and media institutions, providing students with opportunities to participate in formal performances, cultural exchange activities, TV programs, and cultural heritage promotion projects. This "learning through practice" model helps students accumulate stage experience and enhance their performing abilities.
5. Strategic Location and Rich Cultural Industry Resources
Located in Beijing, the cultural capital of China, the college enjoys unparalleled access to top cultural resources:
Proximity to major art venues such as the National Centre for the Performing Arts, Beijing Opera Theatre, and cultural institutions like the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, creating convenient conditions for students to watch classic performances, participate in cultural seminars, and engage in industry exchanges.
Benefiting from Beijing’s strong support for cultural industry development, students have broad employment prospects in art troupes, cultural and creative enterprises, cultural heritage institutions, art education institutions, and media platforms after graduation.
6. Outstanding Talent Cultivation Achievements and Industry Recognition
Over the years, the college has cultivated a large number of outstanding professionals in opera, dance, music, and art design, many of whom have become backbone performers in major art troupes or renowned artists in the industry. The college’s graduates are highly recognized for their solid professional skills, profound cultural literacy, and strong adaptability. Additionally, the college actively participates in national and international cultural exchange activities, helping students showcase their talents on a broader stage and enhancing their international influence.