The first Beijing International Drama Festival began Saturday night with a successful opening performance of the opera "Aida" at the Beijing Worker's Stadium.

The super grand sight opera "Aida," having a floor area of stage of over 6,000 square meters and involving more than 4,000 performers, is the largest of its kind in the world.

Various performing arts such as opera, musicals and puppetry as well as China's traditional Peking Opera and Yue Opera will be staged during the two-week festival. Artists from more than 20 countries will bring their world class performances to the capital.

(People's Daily September 28, 2003)