BEIJING, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- Top Chinese leaders including President Hu Jintao on Wednesday watched Peking Opera at the National Center for the Performing Arts in a gala to mark the New Year.

    Top legislator Wu Bangguo, top political advisor Jia Qinglin, and other senior leaders including Li Changchun, Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, He Guoqiang and Zhou Yongkang also watched the performance together with nearly 1,000audience.

    The programs include excerpts from modern Peking Opera "The Red Lantern" and a series of traditional works such as "Si Lang Tan Mu", or "The fourth son visits his mother".

Top Chinese leaders including President Hu Jintao on Wednesday watched Peking Opera at the National Center for the Performing Arts in a gala to mark the New Year.

    The 200-year-old Peking Opera, regarded as a cultural treasure of China, combines instrumental music, vocal performances, mime, dance and acrobatics.