The traditional Peking Opera Sacrifice, featuring Peking Opera actress Wang Peiyu in the leading role, has been adapted into a movie of the same title, which premiered in Beijing on Sept 25 and will be screened till Sept 30 in the capital's cinemas.

Based on the classic Chinese tragedy The Orphan of Zhao, the Peking Opera Sacrifice, set against the backdrop of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), tells the story of Cheng Ying, who sacrificed his baby son to replace the only survivor and heir of a persecuted family. Cheng then raised the latter as his own, only to reveal the truth when the young man was grown up and ready for revenge.

Peking Opera master Gao Qingkui turned the story into the Peking Opera Sacrificefor the first time in 1933. Later, in 1947, the celebrated Peking Opera performer Meng Xiaodong (1907-1977), who was renowned for her clear voice and mastery in portraying male roles onstage, adapted Sacrifice.

Wang, one of the most popular Peking Opera artists in China, performed the role of Cheng Ying three years ago with a new production of Sacrifice and turned the Peking Opera piece into a movie, with a goal of introducing the traditional art form to more people, especially young audiences.

With a combination of various art forms, including singing, dancing, acrobatics and martial arts, Peking Opera, or jingju, has a history stretching back more than 200 years. In 2010 UNESCO declared it an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Like many traditional art forms, it has been challenged by contemporary entertainment and is losing its audience, especially among the younger generation.

Born and raised in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu province, Wang began her Peking Opera training when she was a middle school student. She adheres to the tradition of the performing style of Peking Opera master Yu Shuyan, whose style is called yupaior the Yu School.