Home to bright lights, big screens and flocks of people, the modern and glistening New York's Times Square shined even more Monday night with traditional Peking Opera being shown for the first time on eight of its huge screens.

The Peking Opera "Red Cliff" is broadcast on giant screens at Times Square in New York, March 16, 2009. The National Center for the Performing Arts of China decided to broadcast the opera on eight outdoor screens in Times Square as a way to celebrate the theater's one year anniversary. [Xinhua]

"I was puzzled at the first sight and sound when people in strange costumes appeared on so many LEDs at the same time, but I was later stunned by the spectacular scene and the exotic elements that Peking Opera displayed," said Magaret Bauer, a German tourist in her 60s, while watching the  big screens in Times Square broadcasting Red Cliff, an epic historical opera, starring China's top classical musicians.

"I was not only impressed by the sound and costumes of the opera,  but also the way that China is sharing its fabulous cultural traditions with the rest of the world," she added.

To celebrate its anniversary, the National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA) of China decided to broadcast in New York's Times Square Red Cliff, a Peking opera directed by Zhang Jigang, director of the spectacular opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics,  so as to make more people around the world know more about the long standing and well-established Chinese culture and civilization.

The famous historic battle of Red Cliff is a lopsided triumph of the weak, but intelligent, minority over the mighty, but arrogant, majority during the Three Kingdoms period. Artists are now providing a fresh take on the historic story.

The traditional setting of the opera is just one table and two chairs. This time, the simple setting was replaced with a giant ship, which collapsed during the show's climax.

Despite considerable sequences examining the central characters, "Red Cliff" is also a flamboyant production, with dazzling lighting, sophisticated props, elaborate costumes and a stage design ready to rival the "Red Cliff" movie on the big screen.

One hundred and eighty costumes are worn during the three-hour show (on stage).

"The story gets across easily as it (LED) is a very visual medium, although I don't understand the language," said tourist Shant Ricka from Montana of the United States, adding that "different peoples of different cultures should exchange their different traditions so as to make this world even more colorful."

"China has shown us a good example, " he said.

The Peking Opera "Red Cliff" is broadcast on a giant screen at Times Square in New York, March 16, 2009. [Xinhua]

Zuohuang Chen, artistic director of  the NCPA, told Xinhua that "no place is  more suitable than Times Square, which is considered the 'Cross of the World,'  to introduce to the world, Peking Opera, the quintessence of Chinese culture."

"Peking Opera is the most representative traditional art of China and this broadcast is a rare opportunity to witness the virtuosity and precision of China's ancient arts projected above the lights and glitter of Times Square," he added.

Continuing the NCPA's philosophy of fostering the Chinese national arts, Red Cliff is a romantic, sweeping opera famously known throughout China as a timeless Peking Opera classic.

Since its premiere on December 22, 2008, Red Cliff has received critical acclaim as "a diamond on the crown of Peking Opera," with consecutive sold-out performances.

"I don't think many people here understand Peking Opera, but many people have noticed that it is so close to the Western opera and so close to any story telling style that is often applied in music," said Jean Jacques Cesbron, president of Columbia Artists Music, LLC. "I hope this will make more people become curious and become interested in the greatest story that Peking Opera is used."

The Peking Opera "Red Cliff" is broadcast on giant screens at Times Square in New York, March 16, 2009. [Xinhua]

Cesbron also praised the practice that China is promoting its outstanding cultural traditions around the world. "As China is emerging as an Asian leader in the world in many areas, I am happy to see culture also being given importance to."

Noting that the Chinese culture is "fabulous and amazing," Cesbron said "there is so much to learn from it." Cultural outlets like the NCPA should not stand alone in Beijing, but to "use it statue" to help people around the world know more about China through the introduction of its cultures of various forms.

It was not only the people of other countries who were impressed,  Siran Wang and Ruyi Shen, exchange students from China's Tianjin University of Fiannce and Economics, were among thousands of viewers who were moved by what was happening in Times Square.

"I was thrilled to hear the familiar music and the drumbeat of Peking Opera in a place like Times Square that is filled with commercials of big foreign companies," said Shen, adding it is such a good idea to introduce the Chinese culture into a multi-cultural place as in New York.

Wang, who said she was "astonished" by the scene that Peking Opera was shown on the NASDAQ huge screen, which is the best way to explain how wonderful this world is -- an opera, with a history of hundreds of years from an ancient old civilization, is settling down on the screen of a modern finance giant here in New York."

The Peking Opera "Red Cliff" is broadcast on a giant screen at Times Square in New York, March 16, 2009.