Hundreds of primary students embrace the song, dance of a fading national treasure

Peking Opera may have lost its place in the pantheon of popular entertainment, but devoted fans of the classical Chinese theater are looking to cultivate new appreciation among schoolchildren for a fading national treasure.

Since 2008, Beijing has promoted a program to provide opera training at dozens of primary schools. Schools apply for funds from the city's education department to hire professional actors and actresses to work with students as young as 6 or 7.